The U.S. digital news website Axios reported, citing a senior U.S. official, that the U.S. last week suspended weapons supplies to Israel, including various types of aerial bombs, including the Mk-82 and Mk- 84 aerial bombs.
Earlier, the website reported, citing several unnamed Israeli officials, that the United States had suspended ammunition shipments to Israel for the first time since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.
An official told Axios that the United States discussed Israel’s actions in Rafah last week. He believes that as Israeli leaders were about to make a decision on the Rafah operation, the White House began to “carefully review” providing Israel with specific weapons for possible use in Rafah in April. As a result of the review, the White House last week suspended a shipment of weapons.
A U.S. official told the website: “The Biden administration is particularly concerned about the end use of Mk-84 aerial bombs in Rafah because of the devastating impact they could have on…the urban environment.” He emphasized that the United States has not yet made a decision on this batch of weapons. final decision.
The official also pointed out that these supplies have nothing to do with the additional funding for Israel passed in April. “All of these (supplies) are using funds that were allocated a few years ago,” he told Axios.
The U.S. official also said that the U.S. State Department is considering more arms deals with Israel, including the provision of Joint Guided Attack Weapons (JDAM) that can transform “unguided bombs” into precision-guided weapons.
The U.S. Congress voted last month to provide more than $20 billion in additional military aid to Israel .
