UK: Israel sold weapons to Argentina at the peak of Falklands War

Newly declassified UK Foreign Office files have revealed that Israel sold weapons to Argentina in 1982, when the Falklands War was at its peak. Israel provided Argentina with arms that were used against British forces during the battle for the territory.

Prior to the war, Israel exported Skyhawk jets to Argentina which was used to bomb British warships and kill dozens of British military servicemen.

The files have also revealed that Israel was about to sell spy planes to Argentina which were to be used to gather electronic and signals intelligence from the British. Sir Geoffrey Howe, foreign secretary at the time, managed to talk the Israelis out of doing so.

Initially, Israeli officials denied any arms sales to Argentina, but dropped their claim by 1984 justifing their actions by saying the UK sells arms to “enemy” Arab states.