US requested 'Israel's' outdated Hawk systems to send them to Kiev
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Axios reported that Washington had made similar contacts to other countries for the Hawk anti-air systems to deliver them to Ukraine.
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Raytheon's MIM-23A HAWK air-defense system (US Army)
Washington asked "Tel Aviv" for the Hawk anti-air missiles it has in storage in order to deliver them to Kiev, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing three Israeli and US officials.
According to the news site, the Pentagon contacted the Israeli Security Minister two weeks ago and made the request.
Similar contacts were made to other countries, including some that had them on active duty, to secure more Hawk anti-aircraft systems, the report said citing the sources.
Read more: Spain to send Hawk air defense systems to Ukraine
Despite similar western requests in the past and Ukraine repeatedly stressing the need for such weapon systems, "Israel" claimed publicly that it rejected to send Kiev advanced arms due to fears of raising tensions with Moscow.
"Israel" purchased the Hawk system from the US in the 1960s under the pretext of defending itself against Egyptian and Syrian airstrikes.
The once state-of-the-art technology, the Raytheon-made Hawk system owned by "Israel", was replaced almost a decade ago by other more advanced systems such as the US patriot systems and its own Arrow and Iron dome anti-air systems and has since been put out of service.
According to the report, an official in "Israel's" security ministry informed their US counterparts that "Tel Aviv" did not change its policy regarding sending military systems to Kiev.
Read more: US considers dumping Vietnam-era SAMs by sending them to Kiev
The official added that their systems are "obsolete" and dysfunctional due to the long period they had been kept in storage without routine maintenance.
However, another Israeli official refuted the claim that the systems were "obsolete", stating that hundreds of the Hawk systems in storage can be refurbished and put on duty.
The "position of the Israel security establishment [on giving military aid to Ukraine] hasn’t changed. Every request is being reviewed on a case-by-case basis,” the Israeli security ministry told Axios.
Read more: 'Israel' donating weapons to Ukraine via third countries: exclusive
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hinted earlier this month in an address to the AIPAC leadership in Washington that the US asked "Israel" for the Hawk systems.
"Now, the Hawks are no longer state-of-the-art technology. But they can still help a besieged democracy defend itself," Austin said, noting that they helped "Tel Aviv" in its wars decades ago.
Austin also said that Washington is working with its allies to provide Kiev with Hawk missile systems.
Read more: Israeli FM: less public talk about Ukraine, call with Lavrov Tuesday
