US Approves $151.8M Bomb Sale to Israel Without Congressional Review Amid Iran Conflict

The United States has approved a $151.8 million weapons sale to Israel, authorizing the transfer of thousands of bomb bodies and related munitions support without undergoing the usual congressional review process. The announcement from the U.S. State Department came on Friday, as tensions continue to escalate following recent military attacks involving Israel, the United States, and Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked emergency authority to fast-track the deal, stating that the arms transfer is necessary to protect U.S. national security interests. By declaring the sale an emergency, the State Department bypassed the standard requirement for congressional approval. According to officials, Israel requested 12,000 BLU-110A/B 1,000-pound general-purpose bomb bodies. Repkon USA, a Texas-based defense contractor, will serve as the primary supplier for the order.

The approval arrives roughly one week after the United States and Israel began coordinated airstrikes targeting Iran. In response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks against Israel and several regional locations hosting U.S. military bases. The escalating conflict has already resulted in significant casualties and raised concerns about wider instability across the Middle East.

Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks criticized the decision to bypass Congress, arguing that the emergency declaration raises questions about the administration’s preparedness for the conflict with Iran. Meeks said the move contradicts claims that the government was fully prepared for potential escalation and suggested the emergency was avoidable.

According to Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, more than 1,300 Iranian civilians have been killed and thousands injured in recent attacks. Several high-ranking Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were also reported killed. Meanwhile, the U.S. military confirmed that six American service members died in a strike on a U.S. facility in Kuwait. Israeli officials reported at least ten civilian deaths in Israel since the conflict intensified.

Washington has consistently supported Israel through multiple conflicts across the region, including wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have approved emergency military sales to Israel in the past. However, continued U.S. military assistance has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and international experts, especially following Israel’s prolonged military campaign in Gaza after the October 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and led to more than 250 hostages being taken.