US pours $1.5 billion into building secretive sprawling Israeli military bases

The US is overseeing a sprawling military construction initiative in Israel, with projects valued at more than $1.5 billion, funded entirely through American aid, Haaretz has revealed citing newly surfaced documents from the US Army Corps of Engineers. The massive infrastructure programme includes the construction of airbase runways, helicopter hangars, ammunition storage, command centres, and a new headquarters for Israel’s elite naval commando unit, Shayetet 13. The project is being financed through military assistance provided under the terms of the $3.8 billion annual aid package agreed in 2016 by former US President Barack Obama. Haaretz, which first reported the story, notes that the US military aid is also covering upgrades to accommodate Israel’s new fleet of CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters and […]