The US Department of Defense on Tuesday approved the sale of weapons to Israel in a $20 billion deal that includes F-15 fighter jets, armored vehicles, tank shells and air-to-air missiles.

Haaretz newspaper said, "We are talking about a deal that was discussed between senior officials in Israel and the United States, and with aircraft manufacturing companies."

This deal requires the approval of the US House of Representatives and Senate, whose members will be able to submit reservations about the deal in the coming weeks, according to the same source.

For its part, Maariv newspaper said that according to the Pentagon, the deal includes the sale of 100 F-15IA and F-15I aircraft, worth about $18.82 billion, 120 mm artillery shells worth $774.1 million, along with advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles worth up to $102.5 million.

The deal also includes modified M1148A1B2 tactical vehicles for Israel for $583.1 million, according to the same source.

According to Maariv, the expected date for the delivery of the planes, vehicles and bombs will not be soon, but rather within the next two to five years.

According to her, most of the total costs of the deal will be paid for by US aid money to Israel.

On Friday, the American network CNN reported that Washington is preparing to provide financial support worth $3.5 billion to Israel as part of the arms and military aid package approved by Congress months ago.

The network said, quoting informed sources, that the US State Department informed members of Congress that the US administration is preparing to provide Israel with $3.5 billion in funding to cover its military expenses.

US President Joe Biden approved a financial support package for Israel last April, worth $26 billion, including about $14 billion for military support.