US Approves Emergency Sale of 12,000 Bomb Casings to Israel

TDT | Manama

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The US State Department approved an emergency sale of 12,000 1,000-pound (450-kilogram) bomb casings to Israel on Friday, in the midst of escalating conflict with Iran in the Middle East. The sale is valued at approximately $151.8 million, according to a State Department press release.

The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs stated that the sale “will improve Israel's capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats.” Along with the munitions, the deal includes US government and contractor-provided engineering, logistics, and technical support services.

President Donald Trump announced on social media that major US defense companies have agreed to quadruple production of advanced weapons, following the first US and Israeli strikes on Iran last week.

While arms sales of this scale usually require congressional approval, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a waiver citing an emergency. “The Secretary of State has determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel… and that the sale is in the national security interests of the United States,” the department said, referencing the Arms Export Control Act.

The decision has drawn criticism from some lawmakers. Congressman Gregory Meeks, a Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, argued that bypassing Congress “exposes a stark contradiction at the heart of this administration's case for war.” He added, “Rushing to invoke emergency authority to circumvent Congress tells a different story,” questioning the administration’s readiness for the conflict.