The United States has spent a record-breaking 17.9 billion dollars on military aid to Israel since the war in Gaza began, according to a report by Brown University’s Costs of War project. This amount is in addition to the 4.86 billion dollars spent on US military operations in the region since the October 7 attacks. The report also highlights Israel’s status as the biggest recipient of US military aid in history, receiving 251.2 billion dollars since 1959.
The report was published on the anniversary of Hamas’ attacks on Israel and provides insight into the financial costs of the US’s military-backed support for Israel in its conflicts with Hamas and Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. The study’s authors, Linda J Bilmes, William D Hartung, and Stephen Semler, used inflation-adjusted dollars to calculate the costs, which include military financing, arms sales, and drawdowns from US stockpiles and hand-me-downs of used equipment.
Money Flows Freely to Israel Amid Escalating Conflict (Image via Getty)
The US aid has been stepped up since the war in Gaza started, with the Biden administration aiming to deter and respond to any attacks on Israeli and American forces. The increased military presence has also led to a significant increase in costs, with at least 4.86 billion dollars spent on military operations in the region. The researchers described the costs as an “unexpectedly complicated and asymmetrically expensive challenge.”
The report also highlights the US military’s role in responding to escalated strikes by the Houthis, an armed faction in Yemen that has been firing on merchant ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Gaza. The US Navy has deployed ships to the region to try to counter these attacks, which have become the most intense running sea battle the Navy has faced since World War II.
The report’s findings come as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, with Israel’s retaliatory offensive killing nearly 42,000 people in Gaza and at least 1,400 people in Lebanon, including Hezbollah fighters and civilians. Despite the significant costs, the US has remained committed to providing billions in military assistance to Israel and Egypt each year, as part of its efforts to stabilize the region.
