US State Department Approves Sale of Munitions to Israel Worth $151 Million

SadaNews - On Friday evening, the US State Department approved the sale of munitions to Israel worth $151.8 million amid the escalating war with Iran.

A statement indicated that approval was given for the sale of 12,000 bomb bodies weighing 470 kilograms at the request of the State Department's Political-Military Affairs Office.

The office stated in the statement that "The proposed sale will enhance Israel's ability to confront current and future threats, strengthen its defense, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats."

In addition to the munitions, the sale will include engineering, logistics, and technical assistance services provided by the US government, according to the statement.

President Donald Trump announced on social media, one week after the US and Israel launched their first strikes on Iran, that major American defense companies had agreed to increase production of advanced weapons fourfold.

While US arms sales usually require congressional approval, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a waiver of that procedure, sparking displeasure among some lawmakers.

The State Department stated, citing the Arms Export Control Act, "The Secretary of State provided a detailed justification for the existence of an emergency that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel of the mentioned defense materials and services, which is in the national security interest of the United States."

Congressman Gregory Meeks, a Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that bypassing congressional review for the arms sale "reveals a stark contradiction at the core of this administration's position on the war."

He added in a statement, "The Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized that it was fully prepared for this war. However, rushing to activate emergency powers to circumvent Congress presents a completely different story."

He continued, "This is an emergency of the Trump administration's making."