Media reports: Trump permits Israel to deploy "heavy bombs"
US President Donald Trump has allegedly lifted the Biden administration's prohibition on providing Israel with bunker-busting bombs. Read Full Article at RT.com.
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The reported lifting of restrictions on weapons shipments is said to be linked to ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
US President Donald Trump has authorized the transfer of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, reversing a suspension that the Biden administration enacted last year, according to Axios and Reuters, which cited sources familiar with the matter.
Israeli officials, speaking anonymously to Axios, stated, “1,800 MK-84 bombs, which were held in storage in the US, will be put on a ship and delivered to Israel in the coming days.”
This decision was reportedly relayed to West Jerusalem by the Pentagon on Friday, shortly before Hamas freed four female IDF soldiers as part of a prisoner exchange agreement related to the ceasefire established on January 15.
The United States has historically provided military aid to Israel, which includes precision-guided munitions and advanced weaponry. In May 2024, the Biden administration halted the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs due to concerns about their potential impact on densely populated areas like Rafah in southern Gaza, where many Palestinian civilians had sought refuge. However, after significant lobbying efforts from Israeli officials, shipments of 500-pound bombs resumed in July 2024.
The 2,000-pound bombs, often referred to as "bunker busters," were categorized as excessively destructive and remained restricted under the Biden administration. This situation caused tension in US-Israel relations and led to criticism from both Israel and the American Jewish community.
Israeli officials reportedly engaged in discussions regarding the removal of the heavy ammunition restrictions with the Trump administration in the context of reaching a ceasefire and hostage arrangement with Hamas. Mike Herzog, Israel’s outgoing ambassador to the US, commended Trump's involvement in facilitating the agreement, noting that the US had successfully negotiated concessions from both parties to promote the deal.
“They got some things from the Israeli side that allowed the deal to go through, and they gave us some things and will give more going forward,” Herzog told Axios last week. He expressed expectations that Trump would “release, at the beginning of his term, the munitions that haven’t been released until now by the Biden administration.”
The decision to remove the hold comes amid a rising death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 47,000 since the conflict escalated in October 2023. The Associated Press reported on Saturday that over 13,000 children are among the deceased. Israel has been accused of intentionally targeting civilians, asserting instead that Hamas is using unarmed Gaza residents as human shields.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump has authorized the transfer of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, reversing a suspension that the Biden administration enacted last year, according to Axios and Reuters, which cited sources familiar with the matter.
Israeli officials, speaking anonymously to Axios, stated, “1,800 MK-84 bombs, which were held in storage in the US, will be put on a ship and delivered to Israel in the coming days.”
This decision was reportedly relayed to West Jerusalem by the Pentagon on Friday, shortly before Hamas freed four female IDF soldiers as part of a prisoner exchange agreement related to the ceasefire established on January 15.
The United States has historically provided military aid to Israel, which includes precision-guided munitions and advanced weaponry. In May 2024, the Biden administration halted the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs due to concerns about their potential impact on densely populated areas like Rafah in southern Gaza, where many Palestinian civilians had sought refuge. However, after significant lobbying efforts from Israeli officials, shipments of 500-pound bombs resumed in July 2024.
The 2,000-pound bombs, often referred to as "bunker busters," were categorized as excessively destructive and remained restricted under the Biden administration. This situation caused tension in US-Israel relations and led to criticism from both Israel and the American Jewish community.
Israeli officials reportedly engaged in discussions regarding the removal of the heavy ammunition restrictions with the Trump administration in the context of reaching a ceasefire and hostage arrangement with Hamas. Mike Herzog, Israel’s outgoing ambassador to the US, commended Trump's involvement in facilitating the agreement, noting that the US had successfully negotiated concessions from both parties to promote the deal.
“They got some things from the Israeli side that allowed the deal to go through, and they gave us some things and will give more going forward,” Herzog told Axios last week. He expressed expectations that Trump would “release, at the beginning of his term, the munitions that haven’t been released until now by the Biden administration.”
The decision to remove the hold comes amid a rising death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 47,000 since the conflict escalated in October 2023. The Associated Press reported on Saturday that over 13,000 children are among the deceased. Israel has been accused of intentionally targeting civilians, asserting instead that Hamas is using unarmed Gaza residents as human shields.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
