US D9 bulldozers arrive in Haifa Port to boost Israeli forces

A significant shipment of D9 bulldozers from the United States, recently released by the Trump administration, arrived in Israel Wednesday as part of a large-scale military resupply operation, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced.

The delivery marks a milestone in the ongoing efforts to bolster Israel’s defense capabilities since the outbreak of the current war and comes after months of delays.

In November, it was reported that the Biden administration froze the delivery of 134 Caterpillar bulldozers for several months as part of a partial U.S. arms embargo on the Jewish state, despite the Israeli government, having paid for them, awaiting State Department approval for their export.

On Jan. 25, five days after Trump took office for his second term, the White House lifted the embargo on sending the D9 large track-type tractor bulldozers to the IDF, 1,700 heavy bombs to the Israeli Air Force from Boeing, and other weapons.

The bulldozers are primarily used for flattening structures in the Gaza Strip as part of Israel’s military campaign against Hamas terrorist infrastructure.

Since the beginning of hostilities, Israel’s Defense Ministry said that it has coordinated the transport of more than 100,000 tons of military equipment. This unprecedented logistical effort has included 870 flights and 144 sea shipments, making it the largest air and sea supply operation in the nation’s history.

The latest shipment, which landed Wednesday morning at the Port of Haifa, consisted of dozens of D9 bulldozers and additional ground force equipment.

The operation was a joint effort led by the Defense Ministry’s procurement delegation in the U.S., the IDF Planning Directorate and the ministry’s International Defense Transportation Unit.

Upon arrival, the equipment was swiftly unloaded and transferred onto dozens of trucks from the IDF’s Transport Unit and Technology and Logistics Directorate, before being sent for the installation of protective armor.

Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, director general of the Ministry of Defense, personally received the shipment at Haifa Port.

He emphasized the importance of the delivery, saying: “The shipment of D9 bulldozers is part of a broad-scale build-up effort, involving munitions and weaponry worth billions of shekels, which the American administration released and the Ministry of Defense purchased and transported to Israel. In recent weeks, we have received many ships and cargo planes in the country. We must continue to strengthen our force build-up to support all the IDF’s needs in the current campaign and in preparation for the coming decade.”

A Defense Ministry spokesperson described it as “a very important shipment that we have been waiting for a long time,” highlighting the critical role such equipment plays in ongoing and future military operations.

The Defense Ministry has indicated that these efforts will continue, with ongoing shipments planned to ensure the Israel Defense Forces is fully equipped to meet immediate operational needs and long-term strategic objectives.