US Prepares $2.8 Billion Weapons Package for Israel, Led by 2,000-Pound Bombs
The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion weapons package for Israel centred on 20,000 MK-84 bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs and 20,000 I-2000 warheads.
The United States is preparing a weapons package for Israel valued at $2.8 billion, built around 2,000-pound-class bombs, in what would be one of the largest single transfers of such munitions to the country in recent years.
The proposed sale has been informally communicated to congressional committees, and the administration is seeking the approval of the leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The transaction is not final and still has to clear the congressional approval process.
What the package contains
The deal centres on some of the heaviest conventional munitions in the US arsenal. It includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs and 20,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads.
The MK-84 is capable of penetrating thick structures and produces a large blast and fragmentation effect. The BLU-117 is a variant of the MK-84 fitted with a thermal protective coating, while the I-2000 is designed for use against hardened targets.
The weapons would be financed largely through the Foreign Military Financing programme, under which US funding is used by Israel to buy American-made weapons.
Why the proposed transfer stands out
If approved, the package would be substantially larger than earlier US transfers of 2,000-pound munitions to Israel. It also marks a shift from the previous administration's approach: in 2024, one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs was paused over concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza, a policy reversed after the current administration took office in January 2025.
The munitions have been used by Israel in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Their size and destructive capacity have drawn concern about their use in densely populated areas.
Political context
The proposed sale signals continued US military support for Israel even as Washington and the Israeli government differ over aspects of its regional military operations and broader Middle East policy.
It also comes amid widening debate in Washington over US military assistance to Israel. More than 100 House Democrats voted in July to end US aid to Israel, while Republican lawmakers have remained broadly supportive.
Congressional scrutiny is expected to be a key stage in determining whether the transfer proceeds as planned.