Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC: The Trump administration is planning to sell Israel a $2.8 billion package of munitions, including tens of thousands of 2,000-pound bombs, according to a U.S. official familiar with the proposed sale. The package would include 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, both weighing 2,000 pounds, according to the official.
The proposed sale has been informally communicated to congressional committees that review major U.S. arms transfers, but the deal has not yet been publicly announced by the State Department. The Israeli Embassy in Washington also had not publicly commented on the proposal as of Tuesday.
The planned weapons transfer comes as the United States continues its military and security partnership with Israel amid ongoing conflicts and heightened tensions across the Middle East.
Israel has used similar heavy munitions in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Their use in densely populated areas has drawn scrutiny from human rights experts because of the potential for significant civilian casualties.
The proposed sale also comes amid debate in the United States over Washington’s military support for Israel. Reuters reported that a 2026 public opinion poll found an increasing share of Americans believe U.S. support for Israel has gone too far, with the shift particularly pronounced among Democrats.
The proposed $2.8 billion package would represent a significant addition to Israel’s stock of heavy U.S.-made munitions. However, the plan remains subject to the U.S. arms-sale process and congressional review.
The proposal comes as the wider Middle East remains under heightened military tension following the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran earlier this year and continuing violence in the region.
