NewsMakers-Daily Latest Urdu Breaking News Updates We Make Better News
Web Desk
September 16, 2026
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is preparing a highly controversial defense deal with Israel that would see 40,000 two-thousand-pound bombs sold to the country — the largest sale of this controversial weapon in recent years.
Citing a senior US official, The Washington Post reported that the $2.8 billion package includes:
| Weapon | Quantity |
|---|---|
| MK-84 Bombs | 20,000 |
| BLU-117 Bombs | 20,000 |
| I-2000 Penetrator Warheads | 20,000 |
The package is larger than the controversial $204 million sale approved in 2025, which bypassed the traditional congressional review process.
MK-84: Among the Most Destructive Western Weapons
The MK-84 is considered one of the most destructive weapons in Western arsenals. Its explosion sends metal fragments flying thousands of feet in every direction, and it has the ability to tear through metal and hardened concrete.
US Air Force pilots nicknamed it “the Hammer” during the 1991 Gulf War. A former US military expert explained:
“If Hezbollah or anyone else is in a building, the MK-84 will bring the whole building down.”
Use in Gaza and Lebanon
Israel has used these 2,000-pound bombs on hundreds of occasions in Gaza and Lebanon, playing a significant role in the casualties in those conflicts. Israel has faced intense global criticism for dropping MK-84 bombs even in areas designated as safe zones for civilians in Gaza.
This was the one weapon whose delivery the Biden administration temporarily halted for Israel in 2024 over concerns about Palestinian civilian casualties. However, Trump reversed that policy in January 2025.
Congressional Approval and Political Controversy
The package is not yet final and requires congressional approval. According to The Washington Post, it has been informally presented to relevant congressional committees.
Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, warned that the use of such weapons in densely populated areas raises “real concerns,” particularly in the context of Israel’s air campaign in Gaza.
Trump’s ‘Peace’ Pledge vs. Reality
It is worth recalling that one of President Trump’s most attractive campaign slogans was ending wars and establishing peace in the world. However, critics of this deal argue that the sale of heavy bombs contradicts that pledge.
According to one analysis, Washington cannot simultaneously be Israel’s largest arms supplier and a neutral mediator. When a mediator fills one party’s arsenal, its mediation loses credibility.
