The US military is "surging" fresh supplies of air defences, munitions and other security assistance to Israel to help it respond to an unprecedented weekend attack by Hamas, a senior US defence official says.
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"Planes have already taken off," the US official said on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity to Pentagon reporters.
"We are surging support to Israel ... We remain in constant ongoing contact with our counterparts in Israel to determine and then support their most urgent requirements."
The United States has not yet detailed the extent of Israel's requests for security assistance. But the defence official said Washington was contacting the defence industry to expedite pending Israeli orders, and looking at the US military's own stockpiles to help fill Israeli gaps.
The official also appeared to dismiss concerns the US might struggle to supply Israel at the same time that it funnels weaponry to Ukraine.
"We are able to continue our support both to Ukraine, to Israel, and maintain our own global readiness," the official said.
Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, killing hundreds of Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages. The attack led Israel to declare war, and the spiraling violence threatens to start a major new war in the Middle East.
The senior US official compared the attack by Hamas to "ISIS-level savagery," a characterisation echoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also said on Monday that Hamas' attack mirrored those carried out by the jihadist group Islamic State.
President Joe Biden said at least 11 American citizens were among those killed in Israel and added US citizens were likely among the Hamas hostages.
"I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.
The senior defence official said there was not yet any evidence seen by the US of Iran being behind the attack in Israel, following a report by the Wall Street Journal alleging Iranian security officials helped plan it.
"Of course, Iran is in the picture. Iran has provided support for years to the Hamas and Hezbollah. But we have no information corroborating the specifics of the Wall Street Journal story at this time," the official said.
Australian Associated Press
