The United States has approved the sale of 12,000 air-dropped bombs to Israel as fighting in the Middle East continues. The deal, valued at about USD151.8 million, involves the transfer of BLU-110 bombs, a widely used 1,000-pound precision-guided munition employed by modern fighter aircraft.
The approval was authorised by Marco Rubio, who invoked emergency powers to allow the sale to move forward quickly without the usual congressional review period. US officials said the decision was taken because of urgent national security considerations linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The BLU-110 is part of a family of general-purpose bombs commonly used with precision guidance kits such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition system. These weapons can be carried by aircraft including the F-15, F-16 and F-35 and are typically used to strike fortified structures, military facilities and infrastructure targets.
According to US defence officials, the package approved for Israel includes not only the bombs themselves but also technical assistance, engineering support and logistics services from American contractors. The Pentagon said the support elements are intended to ensure that the munitions can be integrated quickly into Israel’s existing weapons systems.
The decision comes as Israel continues extensive air operations in the conflict with Iran. Israeli forces have carried out strikes against missile launch sites, military facilities and command centres in an effort to degrade Iran’s ability to conduct long-range attacks.
Washington has long been Israel’s primary supplier of advanced military equipment. Under US law, arms transfers to close allies can be expedited in situations where the administration determines that delays could affect national security or regional stability.
American officials say the latest weapons package is intended to help Israel maintain operational capability during the current phase of the conflict. The sale reflects the longstanding defence relationship between the two countries and Washington’s commitment to supporting Israel’s military needs during wartime.
The announcement is also likely to draw attention from critics who argue that continued arms transfers risk prolonging the conflict. Supporters of the move say the weapons are necessary for Israel to respond effectively to Iranian missile and drone attacks.
With air operations continuing across several fronts in the region, the transfer of additional munitions signals that the United States expects the conflict to remain intense in the near term.
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