The USA has transferred round 90 Patriot air protection interceptors from storage in Israel to Poland for supply to Ukraine, sources accustomed to the operation instructed Axios.
The switch comes as a part of efforts by the Pentagon to bolster Ukraine’s air protection capabilities in opposition to Russian assaults on crucial infrastructure. This marks probably the most important supply of weapons involving Israel to Ukraine for the reason that begin of Russia's full-scale invasion almost three years in the past.
The Patriot air protection system was formally decommissioned by the Israeli Air Drive in April 2023, over three a long time after it was first supplied to Israel in the course of the Gulf Warfare. With Israel now relying by itself superior air protection applied sciences, such because the Iron Dome, the Patriot system had been relegated to coaching or storage.
Following its retirement, Ukrainian officers approached each the U.S. and Israel with a proposal to return the missiles to the U.S. for refurbishment and subsequent supply to Ukraine, Axios experiences.
Regardless of the plan, Israel initially delayed its choice as a consequence of considerations that Russia may retaliate by supplying superior weaponry to Iran. Based on a Ukrainian official, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to interact in discussions in regards to the proposal for weeks. Nevertheless, Netanyahu reportedly accepted the switch in late September.
The Ukrainian official alleged that Netanyahu sought a concession from President Volodymyr Zelensky concerning an annual pilgrimage of ultra-Orthodox Israelis to Uman, Ukraine, earlier than agreeing to the Patriot deal. Netanyahu’s workplace has denied any connection between the 2 points.
In preparation for the switch, U.S. Air Drive C-17 cargo planes just lately transported the interceptors from an air base in southern Israel to Rzeszów, Poland, a key logistics hub for navy help to Ukraine. Together with the interceptors, extra gear, resembling radars, can be despatched to the U.S. for refurbishment earlier than ultimate supply to Ukraine. The interceptors are appropriate with the Patriot batteries already operational in Ukraine.
An Israeli official mentioned that Russia was knowledgeable upfront of the switch, emphasizing that Israel was merely returning the Patriots to the U.S. reasonably than straight supplying weapons to Ukraine. The official in contrast the transfer to a previous U.S. choice to switch artillery shells from storage in Israel to Ukraine. A spokesperson for Netanyahu’s workplace confirmed that the Patriot system had been returned to the U.S. however mentioned they’d no information of whether or not the interceptors had been despatched to Ukraine.
The Kyiv IndependentBoldizsar Gyori