Israel Requests Additional Military Assistance from the U.S.: Blinken

The U.S. may announce additional assistance to Israel as early as today, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN.

"We are considering specific additional requests made by the Israelis. I think you will learn more details later today," he said.

Blinken noted that it was U.S. President Joe Biden's guidance to ensure that, "we provide Israel with everything it needs at this moment to respond to Hamas attacks."

He also informed the media that the U.S. has received reports of missing and deceased Americans, and the administration is "working overtime" to verify the information.

In response to Republican accusations that the Biden administration is "appeasing Iran, and that the unfreezing of Iranian assets has contributed to Israel's situation," Blinken reiterated that no funds from unfreezing intended for humanitarian purposes have been spent. "So, people are either misinformed or they are misleading. Either way, it is wrong," he stated.