US Congress approves $351m in aid to Israel's Iron Dome

A US Senate panel approved an increase in US financial aid to Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system yesterday.

The Senate Appropriations defence subcommittee agreed to allocate $351 million to finance the anti- missile system during fiscal year 2015 beginning on October 1, compared to $235 million in 2014.

President Barack Obama requested only $179 million to support the system in 2015.

The US spent $700 million since 2011 to support developing the anti-missile system designed to counter short and medium range rockets and artillery shells.

The 2015 loans which include another $270 million to support other anti-missile systems need the approval of the Senate by September.

The US House of Representatives approved a similar amount in May.

In total, the US has agreed to spend $30 billion on military aid in Israel between 2009 and 2018.

In 2014, Israel received $3.1 billion in military aid.