As Hezbollah wreaks havoc across Northern Israel, the Biden administration finally released a chunk of military aid to America’s closest ally.

Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that it had secured an $8.7 billion military aid package from the United States. A 10-year accord inked in 2016 ensures Israel $3.8 billion in yearly U.S. military support. However, with Israel fighting for its life, Biden authorized an extra $14.3 billion in military aid this past April. The newly released funds will come from that portion of funds promised.

While Israeli officials publicly praised the much-needed aid, sources close to the matter expressed frustration with the delay. “It has been months,” noted David Milstein, a former advisor to Gov. Ron DeSantis. “Why did the Biden-Harris administration take so long to transfer the money to Israel during this emergency?”

The package earmarks $3.5 billion for essential wartime procurement, and another $5.2 billion is slated for air defense systems.

Israel’s ongoing war against Iran’s proxies isn’t just a battle for survival. It’s an expensive one. For example, each defense interceptor missile fired from the IDF’s Iron Dome costs between $40,000 and $100,000. Often two are launched per rocket, driving the cost of a single interception up to $200,000.

Beyond the Iron Dome, Israel’s defense spending includes advanced military technologies, border security, and constant readiness, all adding to the financial strain. Despite US aid, Israel shoulders the lion’s share of these costs.