US begins delivering munitions to Israel as American death toll rises to 11

Israeli soldiers are seen in a staging ground near the Israeli Gaza border in southern Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP/PA)

The US has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon is reviewing inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally, a senior Defence Department official said.

Planes have already taken off, said the official, who declined to provide details on the weapons.