On September 16, AFP reported that the US Federal Government is moving towards approving a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel, which includes 40,000 one-ton bombs, one of the largest ammunition packages sold in recent years.
Accordingly, this weapon package - funded by US taxpayers' money - includes some of the most destructive types in Western arsenals, including 20,000 MK-84 bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs and 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator perforating warheads.
A US official quoted by the press said that the administration of President Donald Trump has approved the deal.
Another senior official in the US administration told AFP that "all arms sales to foreign countries are being processed according to appropriate procedures", but declined to comment on the transactions awaiting processing.
The US State Department spokesman also said, "in principle, the department does not confirm or comment on proposed arms deals until they are officially notified to Congress.
The deal was revealed amid a US military shortage of ammunition, with rapidly decreasing reserves due to the war with Iran. From February 28 to June 30, the US spent 22.3 billion USD on ammunition.
In February 2025, the Trump administration approved a deal to sell more than $7.4 billion of bombs, missiles and related equipment to Israel, including the MK-84 bomb.
Previously, due to concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza, former President Joe Biden's administration blocked a 2,000-pound bomb shipment transferred to Israel. President Trump's administration then approved this shipment in early 2025.
