Trump planning ‘largest bomb transfer in modern US history’ to Israel

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion munitions package for Israel that includes 40,000 2,000-pound bombs, according to US officials cited by The Washington Post and Reuters.

The proposed package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, while the Washington Post also reported that it includes 20,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads.

The plan has been informally shared with congressional committees that review major arms sales, but the package had not been finalised at the time of the reports.

The proposed transfer involves large quantities of 2,000-pound-class weapons, which can be used against hardened and above-ground targets.

The Washington Post described the planned transfer as the largest single sale of the 2,000-pound munition in recent years.

Associated Press reported that the package would largely be financed through the US Foreign Military Financing programme, meaning US government funds would be used to support the purchase.

Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson criticised the proposed transfer because of its scale.

Carlson said the quantity represented an unusually large transfer of conventional explosive ordnance and compared the weight of the planned shipment with US bombing operations during World War II.

His comments were an expression of opposition to the proposed sale rather than an official assessment by the US government.

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said he intended to oppose the proposed sale.

Van Hollen has argued against additional US weapons transfers to Israel while fighting continues in Gaza and Lebanon.

The Trump administration has not provided a detailed public response to the proposed transaction, while the State Department and Israeli Embassy did not immediately comment when approached by Reuters.

The proposed sale has also revived debate over the use of heavy munitions in densely populated areas.

The Washington Post noted that 2,000-pound bombs have been involved in incidents resulting in civilian casualties and that similar weapons have been used by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon.

Critics of the transfer argue that the size and destructive capability of the weapons raise concerns about civilian harm, while supporters of the sale point to Israel’s military requirements and the longstanding US-Israel defence relationship.

The proposed package remains subject to further review, meaning its final size, composition and delivery schedule could still change.