U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer address the audience at the Association of the U.S. Army conference in Washington, D.C., Oct. 9, 2023. (Derek Hamilton/U.S. Army)

Top U.S. Army leaders said this week that they are prepared to “lean forward” when it comes to delivering arms to Israel, but that lawmakers will need to step up funding to make it happen.

The U.S. already has begun sending critical munitions to Israel, which declared war over the weekend after Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel’s territory, killing and taking hostage hundreds of civilians in the process.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden said the U.S. will provide ammunition and interceptors to Israel to replenish the Iron Dome and reiterated support for Israel.

He also confirmed that at least 14 Americans were killed in the violence over the weekend, and that an undisclosed number of U.

S. citizens are being held by Hamas.

“We stand ready to move additional assets as needed,” he said.

In the days and weeks ahead, the Pentagon likely will be under intense pressure to meet the competing demands of supporting Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia and Israel’s war with Hamas.

“We need additional support from Congress. So, I hope we’ll see that soon,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said Monday at the Association of the U.

S. Army’s annual meeting in Washington.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, speaking alongside Wormuth, said he was confident the service is prepared to meet Israel’s needs.

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