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U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Anthony King, Chief Master Sgt. Harold Nash and Tech. Sgt. Sherman Padgett, left to right, of the 169th Maintenance Group, discuss the discuss the distribution of GBU-24 Paveway III laser-guided bombs to fighter jets at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida on Mar. 11, 2017. Mor
Photo: S.C. Air National Guard | Public domain | Wikimedia Commons

Trump Administration Approves $2.8 Billion Heavy-Bomb Sale To Israel

On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the Trump administration approved a $2.8 billion arms sale of heavy bombs to Israel, a U.S. official said.[1]

The package would include 40,000 one-ton munitions: 20,000 MK-84 and BLU-117 2,000-pound bombs and 20,000 I-2000 bunker-busting penetrator warheads.[1] The State Department has sent the proposed deal to two congressional committees for informal review, a step that precedes formal notification.[1]

Israel has used these bombs in Gaza and Lebanon, actions that human rights groups and some governments have criticized for causing civilian casualties in dense urban areas.[1] Production and delivery of the munitions typically take months or years, though U.S. procedures allow for expedited supply.[1]

  1. New York Times
U.S. Foreign Policy Israel-Gaza War Defense and Arms Sales
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📌 Key Facts

  • On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, a U.S. official said the Trump administration had approved a $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel.
  • The package includes 40,000 one-ton munitions: 20,000 MK-84 and BLU-117 2,000-pound bombs and 20,000 I-2000 bunker-busting penetrator warheads.
  • The State Department has sent the proposed deal to two congressional committees for informal approval, a step that precedes formal notification.
  • The bombs have been used by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon and criticized by human rights groups and some governments over civilian casualties in dense urban areas.
  • Production and delivery of the munitions typically take months or years, though U.S. procedures allow for expedited supply.

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September 15, 2026
9:57 PM
Trump Approves $2.8 Billion Arms Sale to Israel
Nytimes by Michael Crowley and Edward Wong