US Approves Massive Bomb Deal With Israel, Signaling Strong Support

The United States has approved a historic arms deal with Israel, involving the sale of 60,000 heavy bombs, marking the largest such transaction in the country's history. The package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs (an improved version of the MK-84), and 20,000 BLU-109 bunker-buster variants. While the deal signifies deep American support for Israel, especially amid regional tensions, the actual delivery of these munitions is not expected to begin until 2027 or 2028 and will extend into the next decade.

This timeline indicates the deal is not intended for an immediate confrontation with Iran but rather to bolster Israel's long-term military readiness. It aims to provide the Israeli military and political leadership with greater strategic flexibility in the event of a prolonged future conflict, addressing a key lesson learned from the October 7th attacks.

Following the October 7th Hamas attacks, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) experienced critical ammunition shortages after several weeks of fighting, leading to a significant dependence on U.S. and other foreign supplies. The current deal, involving 60,000 heavy bombs, dwarfs the controversy surrounding a previous delay of 1,800 heavy bombs under the Biden administration. For context, the IDF dropped approximately 100,000 munitions of all types in Gaza during the recent conflict.

The substantial bomb sale serves as a strong signal from the U.S. administration to regional actors, affirming that despite potential policy disagreements between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, the U.S. stands firmly behind Israel in critical matters. The agreement is designed to reduce Israel's reliance on emergency supply channels during wartime and enhance its strategic autonomy.