Congress notified by Biden administration of planned $8 billion weapons sale to Israel

The State Department has informally notified Congress of a planned $8 billion weapons sale to support Israel's long-term security by resupplying stocks of critical munitions and air defense capabilities, a U.S. official familiar with the details confirmed to CBS News on Saturday.

President Biden has made it clear that Israel has the right to defend its citizens as the American ally presses forward with its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Some of the arms in the package could be sent through current U.S. stocks but the majority would take upwards of a year to several years to deliver, the U.S. official said.