Washington will increase its military aid to Israel over the next two years.

The United States has planned to expand its military aid to the Israeli regime over the next two years, adding smart bombs to the new supply list.

US Congress approved a boost of $400 million worth of additional military equipment for Tel Aviv last month, Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported on Thursday.

The fresh aid package will bring the value of American military equipment stockpiled in Israel to $1.2 billion by 2012.

The type of equipment stockpiled in Israel is determined through dialogue between the Israeli military and the US Army's European Command.

It is believed that a great deal of the equipment will include “precision weapons” launched from air, according to the Israeli papaer.

Israeli Army Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said earlier this week that Tel Aviv would need 'much more precision weaponry' for future wars.

The agreement between Washington and Tel Aviv includes conditions under which the Israeli military may use what is officially labeled as US equipment. This has led to speculations as to whether the US military stockpiles in Israel are in fact meant for the Israeli regime.

Meanwhile, a new report has revealed that Israel planned a military confrontation against Lebanon. An unnamed French official told Lebanese daily As-Safir on Wednesday that he was informed about the plan during his Middle East tour four weeks ago.

The French official said Israeli sources told him that they have completed their military and civil preparations over the past month and that the infrastructure and the settlements adjacent to the border with Lebanon were now ready to confront the prospect of war at any moment.

Israel suffered a crushing defeat after invading Lebanon in the summer of 2006 and was forced to leave the region without achieving any of its objectives.

The war claimed the lives of more than 1,200 Lebanese -- mainly civilians.

AGB/MB/HRF

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