US plans $2.8 billion arms package for Israel, including 40,000 heavy bombs
The Trump administration is planning to sell Israel a major weapons package worth about $2.8 billion, including 40,000 heavy bombs, according to U.S. officials cited by The Associated Press.
The proposed deal has not yet been finalized, but U.S. officials have informally notified members of Congress about the planned sale, the AP reported Wednesday.
The package would include 20,000 MK-84 2,000-pound general-purpose free-fall bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 heavy multipurpose bombs. Different versions of the bombs are designed for various targets, including hardened or underground structures and surface targets.
The proposed sale would mark a shift from the policy of former President Joe Biden’s administration, which previously withheld a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel over concerns about potential civilian casualties in Gaza.
Most of the funding for the proposed weapons package would come through the U.S. Foreign Military Financing program. Under the arrangement, U.S. funds are provided to Israel, which can then use the money to purchase weapons and military equipment from U.S. suppliers.
A senior Trump administration official told AFP that all foreign arms sales are handled through established procedures but declined to comment on any specific deal that may be under consideration.
The proposed package comes amid continued international scrutiny over U.S. arms transfers to Israel and their potential impact on civilian populations in conflict zones.
