Donald Trump Bypasses US Congress, Sells 12,000 Bombs To Israel; Destruction Assured For Iran?

Washington: Amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, the United States has announced the sale of 12,000 lethal BLU-110 A/B bombs to Israel. Each bomb will have a 1,000-pound yield and can be dropped from fighter jets or bombers. This is expected to further intensify Israeli airstrikes on Iran. The total cost of this deal is estimated at $151 million. It is being reported that the Trump administration made this decision without congressional approval. Congressional approval is required for any arms sale to any foreign country.

What did the US State Department say?

The State Department said in a statement that the United States has approved the sale of 12,000 aerial bombs to Israel for $151.8 million. "The US Department of State has determined to approve a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Israel for the purchase of ammunition and munitions support. The estimated total cost is $151.8 million. The Government of Israel has requested the purchase of 12,000 BLU-110A/B General Purpose, 1,000-pound bomb bodies," the statement said. Defended the unauthorized arms sale to Israel

The State Department further stated, "This deal will also include U.S. government and contractor engineering, logistics, and technical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support, including non-major defense equipment items. The Secretary of State has determined, and provided detailed reasons, that an emergency exists requiring the immediate sale of the above-described defense articles and defense services to the Israeli government, which is in the national security interest of the United States, thereby waiving the requirements for Congressional review under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended."

How Powerful is the BLU-110 A/B Bomb?

The BLU-110 A/B is a 1,000-pound class general-purpose bomb, often used as a warhead for precision-guided weapons such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). It is a thermally protected variant of the Mark 83 bomb, designed for increased safety. This bomb is primarily used to attack isolated ground targets in air-to-ground operations. The BLU-110 is often used in conjunction with a guidance tail kit (JDAM or Paveway) to create precise, smart bombs that can operate in all weather conditions.