The administration of Donald Trump has approved a possible $151.8 million weapons sale to Israel, using emergency authority to bypass the usual congressional review process.
The US State Department confirmed the decision on Friday. Officials said the move comes as the United States and Israel continue military operations against Iran.
According to a statement from the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, the proposed package includes 12,000 BLU-110A/B general-purpose bomb bodies weighing 1,000 pounds each. The deal also covers engineering, logistics and technical support services.
Officials said the secretary of state determined that an emergency situation justified the immediate sale to the Israeli government. The decision allows the administration to waive the standard congressional review process under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act.
The announcement comes during heightened tensions in the region. Joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel against Iran began on 28 February. Reports indicate that more than 1,000 people were killed during the attacks, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior military officials and civilians.
The conflict has increased instability across the region. Iranian forces have carried out retaliatory strikes against sites linked to the United States. One drone attack in Kuwait reportedly killed six American service members at a tactical operations centre.
The weapons sale has also drawn attention in the US Congress. Some lawmakers have criticised continued arms transfers to Israel during its military campaign in Gaza Strip. In July, 27 Democratic senators supported a resolution that sought to block certain weapons sales, citing concerns about civilian casualties and the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The measure did not pass.
