The 155-millimeter artillery shells that the United States is transferring to the Israeli army are taken from Israel's military reserve stocks. Earlier, the press reported that this ammunition was promised to Ukraine. This was stated by Pentagon spokesman General Patrick Ryder and US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller at briefings.
The US Department of Defense clarified in a conversation with journalists what was provided to Israel under direct commercial sales contracts.
"This includes small-diameter bombs, ammunition and JDAM tail kits," the Pentagon spokesman said.
He also commented on recent publications, in particular in The New York Times, that the United States could have redirected the transfer of 155-mm shells to Israel instead of Ukraine.
"In terms of 155mm ammunition, what happened before the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack was that some 155mm ammunition was taken out of the military reserve stockpile in Israel to replenish the US stockpile in Europe. Much of this was diverted and made available for use by the Israeli Defense Forces," General Ryder said.
The State Department also responded to rumors that some of the weapons originally planned to be sent to Ukraine may now be transferred to Israel.
An American official noted that he could not speak about individual weapons systems until the United States announces an aid package to Israel as a result of the request "and of course, with specific reduction packages that we will provide to Ukraine in the future."
"I will say that as a general principle, there is very little overlap between what Israel has asked for and what it needs, and what Ukraine has asked for and what it needs," Miller said.
He added that to the extent that there is "any overlap," the US side will "work as hard as we can to make sure that we can provide both countries with what they need to protect themselves."
"But as the president made clear last week, that also means we need Congress to take action on the additional request that we have made," the State Department official said.
