WASHINGTON — The State Department quietly unlocked an additional $3.5 billion in funding to enable the Israeli military to purchase more American-made weapons this week, Al-Monitor has learned, even as Biden administration officials publicly called for de-escalation in response to Israel's intensified bombardment of Lebanon.

The additional funds – previously approved under the supplemental spending bill passed by Congress in April – were part of a larger $8.7 billion package finalized during negotiations between senior US and Israeli officials at the Pentagon on Wednesday, two US officials confirmed.

Israel's Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that $5.2 billion of the latest package would pay for additional air defense systems, while the $3.5 billion released this week will go to “essential wartime procurement" in order to "support Israel's ongoing military efforts."

The announcement came after Israeli military leaders hinted this week at a potential ground incursion into Lebanon to uproot Hezbollah and create a buffer-zone along the border, a move US officials have repeatedly warned could potentially lead to a wider war involving Iran.