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 tens of thousands of heavy bombs valued at billions of dollars. This significant transaction, the largest of its kind in Israeli history, includes 60,000 bombs, comprising 20,000 MK-84 "standard" bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs (an enhanced version of the MK-84 with better thermal protection), and 20,000 BLU-109 bunker-buster variants. The delivery of these munitions is not expected to begin until 2027 or 2028 and will extend into the next decade, indicating the deal is intended for future contingencies rather than immediate use against Iran.

The agreement serves as a powerful signal of unwavering American support for Israel, particularly to regional actors, reinforcing the US commitment even amidst potential policy disagreements. It also directly addresses a critical lesson learned from the October 7th attacks and the subsequent war, during which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) faced severe munitions shortages, leading to a concerning reliance on US emergency supplies.

To contextualize the scale of this deal, the controversy surrounding a previous US decision to withhold 1,800 heavy bombs pales in comparison to the 60,000 bombs now being supplied. This quantity significantly surpasses the approximately 100,000 munitions of all types dropped by the Israeli Air Force in Gaza throughout the current conflict.

The long-term delivery timeline suggests the primary purpose of the deal is to bolster Israel's military and diplomatic flexibility for potential prolonged future conflicts, ensuring greater self-sufficiency in munitions supply.