What Happened
Major Defense Acquisition Amid Rising Tensions With Iran
Israel has approved a major defense deal worth tens of billions of shekels, including the acquisition of a fourth F-35 squadron and a second F-15IA squadron. The deal is part of the country’s 350 billion-shekel military buildup plan, dubbed ‘Magen Israel’ or ‘Shield of Israel’. The approval comes amid rising tensions with Iran and the possibility of renewed fighting. According to ynetnews, the deal marks the first step in the force-building plan for the coming decade.