The IDF ordered tens of thousands of 155 mm artillery shells on Thursday from the Israeli Military Industries (IMI), the first major procurement meant to refill military supplies used up during the recent war in Lebanon. The order cost close to $20 million. Throughout the month-long war in Lebanon, the IDF fired close to 20,000 artillery shells, utilizing its entire reserve supplies. El Al planes were called up for military service and transported emergency shipments of shells from the United States to Israel. Sources in IMI said they did not remember such a large order from the IDF in over a decade. In the past, the IDF purchased most of its artillery shells from American contractors using the foreign military aide it received from the US government.