The United States Department of State has approved a $151.8 million weapons sale to Israel. The deal includes munitions and technical support for the Israeli military. The approval was granted without the usual congressional review process.
Officials said the decision was made using emergency authority. The move allows the US government to fast-track military sales when urgent national security interests are involved.
The announcement came during rising tensions in the Middle East. The United States and Israel recently launched military strikes against Iran. The conflict has intensified security concerns across the region.
Emergency Authority Used to Speed Up Weapons Transfer
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that an emergency situation existed. According to the State Department, the urgent conditions required an immediate approval of the weapons sale.
The emergency decision allowed the administration to bypass the standard review by the United States Congress. Normally, lawmakers examine large foreign military sales before they move forward.
Officials said the decision was taken to protect US national security interests. The department said the weapons package would strengthen Israel’s defence capabilities during a period of regional conflict.
Israel requested a large number of bomb bodies as part of the deal. According to the statement, the package includes 12,000 BLU-110A/B general-purpose bombs. Each bomb body weighs around 1,000 pounds and can be used in precision-guided weapons systems.
The contract will be handled by Repkon USA, a defence contractor based in Texas. The company will provide the bomb bodies and related technical support.
The State Department said the sale supports long-term security cooperation between Washington and Israel.
Lawmakers Criticize Decision to Bypass Congress
The emergency approval quickly sparked criticism from some US lawmakers. Critics said the administration should have allowed Congress to review the deal.
Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks voiced strong concerns about the decision. He said bypassing congressional oversight raised questions about the administration’s planning for the conflict with Iran.
Meeks argued that invoking emergency authority suggested the government was not fully prepared for the situation. He said the move appeared to contradict earlier claims that the administration had planned carefully for the regional crisis.
The lawmaker also said the emergency declaration reflected policy decisions made by the administration itself. According to his statement, the urgency surrounding the sale was a result of the current strategy in the Middle East.
Debates over arms transfers to Israel have become increasingly intense in recent years. Many lawmakers have called for greater oversight and transparency regarding military assistance.
Conflict With Iran Raises Global Concerns
The latest weapons sale comes after the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own attacks targeting Israel and locations across the region that host US military bases.
The conflict has resulted in significant casualties on multiple sides. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations said more than 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed during the recent strikes. Thousands more have reportedly been injured.
The United States military also reported casualties. Officials said six American service members were killed during a strike on a facility in Kuwait.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities said at least ten civilians have died in attacks across Israel during the conflict.
Washington has maintained strong military and political support for Israel under both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The United States has continued to provide defence assistance during conflicts involving Israel in Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Iran.
Previous administrations have also used emergency authority to approve arms sales without full congressional review. However, such decisions often face strong political scrutiny.
Human rights organisations and international experts have repeatedly raised concerns about US military support during conflicts in the Middle East. Critics argue that large-scale arms transfers can intensify ongoing wars and humanitarian crises.
Supporters of the policy say the weapons sales help maintain Israel’s security and strengthen US strategic alliances in the region.
