Military aid has been provided to Israel by the US as part of its unwavering support for the country. The scars from past entanglements in the region still linger, so where does US involvement end?

As soon as President Biden heard about the Hamas attack on Israel, he made it clear that he was on Israel’s side.

Iran and its allies were clearly targeted by this warning.

The Pentagon says US troops have been attacked several times in recent days, and an intercepted missile fired from Yemen that was “potentially” aimed at Israel was intercepted by a US destroyer in the Red Sea.

The US already has a carrier strike group in the Eastern Mediterranean, which will soon be joined by another. A typical aircraft carrier carries more than 70 aircraft – a considerable amount of firepower. A large number of troops have also been placed on standby in the region by Biden in the event that they are needed.

As Israel’s largest military ally, the US provides about $3.8 billion in defence aid each year.

The Israeli jets that are bombing Gaza, as well as most of the precision-guided munitions, are American-made. US companies also produce interceptor missiles for Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system.

Resupplies of those weapons were sent by the US even before Israel requested them. In a $105bn (£87bn) military aid package, President Biden asked Congress to approve $14bn funding for its Middle Eastern ally’s war chest.

The Pentagon announced the next day that it would send two of its most powerful missile defence systems to the Middle East – a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and additional Patriot batteries.