Hellfire missiles—which are part of the newly proposed U.S. military aid package for Israel—are loaded onto the rails of a United States Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra at Balad Air Base in Iraq in 2005. Photo: Looper5920 via Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – The United States has proposed a $1.9 billion military package for Israel amid growing concerns over Iran.

The massive package, which was announced by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency and must be approved by Congress, includes 750 bunker buster precision-guided bombs and 3,000 Hellfire missiles, among several other items.

“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives,” the Department of Defense said in a statement, adding, “The proposed sale of these munitions will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”

The timing of the American-Israeli deal comes as President Barack Obama promised last week to step up military assistance to Arab Gulf states due to their concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. Similarly, Israel’s concern about Iran is reportedly the reason for America’s increased military aid to the Jewish state.