US Set to Approve Major Arms Sale to Israel Amid Regional Tensions

The United States is preparing to approve a significant arms deal with Israel, involving the sale of 40,000 heavy bombs valued at $2.8 billion. This transaction, reported by The Washington Post, includes Mk-84 and BLU-117 munitions, each weighing approximately 2,000 pounds, and is poised to be one of the largest such deals in recent years. These are the same types of munitions whose delivery was previously paused by the Biden administration.

The deal still requires Congressional approval, where it may face opposition. In July, over 100 House Democrats advocated for reducing military aid to Israel.

This potential sale follows recent meetings in the U.S. between Major General Amir Baram, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and senior American military officials. Discussions focused on expediting the delivery of crucial munitions to Israel and enhancing defense cooperation, including joint mechanisms for supply oversight to maintain Israel's readiness.

Previously, Israeli sources accused the U.S. of slowing arms shipments, warning that this could escalate the risk of a full-scale conflict with Hezbollah. These sources indicated a substantial decrease in U.S. arms supplies in recent months, suggesting that delays, despite U.S. intentions to prevent war, might paradoxically increase the likelihood of conflict.

In parallel, Israel has been pursuing its own development and production of heavy aerial bombs for the Israeli Air Force, including equivalents to the U.S.-supplied Mk-84, following the earlier suspension of those deliveries.