Trump Vows to Immediately Speed Up Military Supply Deliveries to Israel Upon Taking Office: Reports

November 15, 2024 – As tensions escalate between Hezbollah and Israel, President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to eliminate restrictions on the supply of military equipment and ammunition to Israel immediately upon taking office. Israel’s Channel 12 News first reported this announcement.

The commitment comes as Israel weighs a potential 60-day cease-fire with Hezbollah, creating a strategic window until Trump assumes office and implements these policy changes. Israeli officials have reportedly linked the cease-fire consideration to the assurance of unrestricted military support under the incoming administration.

U.S. policies impose restrictions on certain weapons shipments and combat-related equipment, including an embargo on some non-explosive items. These limitations have strained Israel’s ability to maintain adequate supplies for its defense, as it confronts active conflicts on two fronts—in Lebanon and Gaza.

People pass by a billboard supporting Donald Trump in Tel Aviv, Israel. ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Unnamed Israeli officials confirmed to Fox News Digital that the embargo has challenged Israel’s military operations, making the promise of immediate U.S. support pivotal. Trump’s vow would enable Israel to replenish its stockpiles, alleviating logistical constraints that have intensified amidst ongoing hostilities.

Israel’s potential 60-day cease-fire is seen as a tactical pause, allowing the new U.S. administration to remove supply barriers. The truce would temporarily suspend hostilities in Lebanon but leave the door open for renewed military actions should the situation demand.

According to Reuters, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea presented a draft truce proposal to Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. The details remain undisclosed, but the move signifies a broader effort to stabilise the volatile region.

Despite truce discussions, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have intensified operations against Hezbollah. Military activities include ground manoeuvres in southern Lebanon and airstrikes in key Hezbollah strongholds, such as Syria and Beirut’s Dahiya district.

Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesperson, outlined the military’s objectives, stating, “The IDF’s role is to clear out terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon and ensure that Hezbollah cannot threaten Israeli citizens from there. This is our duty, and we must create the conditions that enable the political echelon to take diplomatic action.”

The assurance from Trump’s team came as Israel is considering a 60-day cease-fire with Hezbollah, which would provide a window until Trump takes office and implements the promised changes. REUTERS

Channel 12’s chief political analyst, Amit Segal, emphasised the significance of Trump’s assurance to Israel. Speaking to Fox News Digital, he noted that the incoming administration’s pledge offers Israel broader strategic options. “Whether to pursue a cease-fire in Lebanon or to take decisive military action, Israel now has greater operational freedom with U.S. backing and no restrictions,” Segal stated.

People walk on the rubble at the site of an Israeli airstrike in the Ghobeiry neighborhood of Beirut’s southern suburbs on November 15, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. AFP via Getty Images

Segal added that a cease-fire with Lebanon indicates progress toward achieving northern military objectives, effectively decoupling the northern and southern fronts. However, he cautioned that the situation in Gaza remains unresolved, with no signs of de-escalation there.

Fox News Digital contacted the Trump transition team to comment on the Channel 12 report but has not responded. While the northern front appears to be inching toward temporary calm, the broader regional conflicts continue to pose challenges, underscoring the complexity of Israel’s security landscape.