US media reported on Tuesday that the United States is set to approve a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel, which includes the sale of 40,000 one-ton bombs, making it one of the largest munitions deals in recent years.
According to The Washington Post, the package—paid for with US taxpayer money—included some of the most destructive munitions in Western arsenals, such as 20,000 MK-84s, 20,000 BLU-117s, and 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads.
The New York Times reported, citing a US official, that the administration of US President Donald Trump had approved the sale.
A senior administration official told AFP that “all foreign arms sales are moving through the appropriate process,” but wouldn’t comment on pending transactions.
In the meantime, a State Department spokesperson informed AFP that “as a matter of policy, the Department does not confirm or comment on proposed arms sales until they have been formally notified to Congress.”
News of the deal emerged as the US military faces an ongoing munitions shortage, with stockpiles quickly dwindling from the war with Iran and the US having spent $22.3 billion on munitions between February 28 and June 30.
Back in February 2025, the Trump administration had given the green light to selling Israel more than $7.4 billion worth of bombs, missiles, and related equipment, among them MK-84 munitions.
Amid concerns about civilian deaths in Gaza, former US President Joe Biden’s administration had stopped a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, yet the Trump Administration approved them once it took office in early 2025.
