The United States government is reportedly preparing to approve a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel, including 40,000 one-ton bombs in one of the largest munitions deals reported in recent years.
US media reports on Tuesday said the proposed package would include thousands of powerful bombs and warheads, with The Washington Post reporting that the weapons would be funded with US taxpayer money.
The newspaper reported that the package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs and 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads.
The New York Times, citing a US official, reported that President Donald Trump’s administration had approved the sale. However, US officials have not publicly confirmed the reported deal.
A senior administration official told AFP that foreign arms sales were being processed through the appropriate procedures but declined to comment specifically on pending transactions.
A State Department spokesperson also told AFP that the department does not normally confirm or comment on proposed arms sales until they have been formally notified to Congress.
The reported deal comes amid concerns over the level of US military ammunition stocks, which have been affected by the ongoing war with Iran. The US reportedly spent $22.3 billion on munitions between February 28 and June 30, while military stocks have continued to decline.
The Trump administration had previously approved a major arms package for Israel in February 2025, valued at more than $7.4 billion and covering bombs, missiles and related military equipment.
The latest reported package also includes MK-84 bombs, which weigh approximately one ton and have previously been at the centre of debate over US military support for Israel.
During the administration of former President Joe Biden, the US temporarily withheld a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel amid concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza. The Trump administration later approved the shipment after taking office in early 2025.
The latest reported sale has yet to be formally confirmed by the US State Department or publicly notified to Congress.
