US transfers weapons stored in Israel to Ukraine

Israel has an agreement to use the stored ammunition in emergency scenarios.
Tank munition, Dec. 29, 2022, Bakhmut, Ukraine

The United States has transferred hundreds-of-thousands of munitions from storage in Israel to Ukraine, according to U.S. and Israeli officials on Wednesday.

The U.S. and Israel agreed to move 300,000 155-millimeter shells, "some" of which have already been transferred to Ukraine, a U.S. official told CNN.

While only U.S. military personnel are able to access the locked weapons warehouses, Israel has an agreement to use the ammunition in emergency scenarios with U.S. approval. 

Moving the munitions is "American business" and Israel does not need to approve the weapons transfer, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Richard Hecht said.

The United States plans to replenish Israel with any transferred weapons, The Jerusalem Post reported

An IDF spokesperson said the transfer of weapons does not mean Israel is shifting its policy on Ukrainian military aid. Israel has condemned the invasion, sent humanitarian aid and taken in refugees, but the country has not sent military aid.