🗑️$18 Billion of U.S. Taxpayer…

🗑️$18 Billion of U.S. Taxpayer Money—Wasted? Israeli $30 Million Drone Shot Down by a $70,000 Resistance Missile in Lebanon🤡

In a striking incident over Lebanese territory, a basic handheld missile—costing less than $100,000—shot down an #Israeli #Hermes 900 #UAV worth an estimated $30 million. This stark contrast in military spending underscores the vulnerability of high-cost U.S.-funded Israeli defense technology to cost-effective resistance tactics.

The Price of Supporting Israel’s Military

Since October 7, 2023, the U.S. has provided Israel with an unprecedented $17.9 billion in military aid, covering everything from advanced drones and missile systems to extensive surveillance networks. Among these assets is the Hermes 900, a #surveillance and attack drone developed by Israeli defense contractor Elbit Systems, featuring multi-million-dollar enhancements for precision targeting and intelligence gathering.

The Hermes 900 program is part of a broader U.S.-funded initiative to bolster Israeli security with the latest military hardware. These drones come with sophisticated payloads, satellite links, and ground control systems, each unit costing up to $30 million. For context, the U.S. aid provided to Israel over the past year could have funded 500,000 college scholarships, 200,000 new teacher salaries, or millions of American families’ health care costs.

A $17.9 Billion Investment Brought Down by a Basic Defense System

The Lebanese resistance’s success in downing this UAV using a #MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense System) at a fraction of the cost illustrates a harsh reality: billions of dollars in high-tech U.S.-backed Israeli weaponry can still be defeated by affordable, low-tech resistance. With each Hermes 900 priced comparably to hundreds of American households’ annual expenses, it’s a sobering reminder of where taxpayer money is going—and how vulnerable these investments can be in actual combat situations.

A Costly Lesson for U.S. Taxpayers

Despite the #US commitment to securing #Israel, incidents like this raise hard questions. How effective is our $17.9 billion investment if one of the most advanced drones can be brought down with a fraction of the funding? At a time when millions of Americans face financial insecurity, the expense of continually funding vulnerable military assets abroad may not reflect the best use of taxpayer dollars.

For U.S. citizens, this event calls into question whether this staggering level of financial support achieves real security or simply fuels an unsustainable cycle. With high-tech equipment repeatedly failing to withstand basic countermeasures, it’s time to reassess where—and how—your resources are spent.





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