What’s happening:

The United States has supplied Israel with a substantial cache of munitions, including 100 BLU-109 ‘bunker buster’ bombs, amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas that began in early October.

Why it matters:

This arms transfer underscores the Biden administration’s commitment to Israel’s right to self-defense, while simultaneously placing emphasis on the necessity to minimize civilian casualties in conflict zones.

The details:

Alongside the ‘bunker busters’, the U.S. has provided approximately 15,000 bombs and 57,000 artillery shells to Israel. The arsenal also includes over 5,000 Mk82 dumb bombs, 5,400 Mk84 bombs, 1,000 GBU-39 small diameter bombs, and 3,000 kits that convert unguided bombs into precision-guided missiles.

Israel’s military strategy:

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have reported significant progress in targeting Hamas infrastructure, claiming to have destroyed a large portion of the group’s tunnel network within Gaza. These tunnels are often situated in civilian areas, raising concerns over possible collateral damage.

Diplomatic tightrope:

Vice President Kamala Harris has reiterated the U.S. stance on Israel’s right to defend itself while advocating for the adherence to international humanitarian law to protect innocent lives in the conflict, including Palestinians.

Strategic impact:

The BLU-109 bombs are designed to penetrate concrete shelters, potentially neutralizing underground facilities used by Hamas. The extent of their use remains unclear, but their inclusion points to a strategic advantage for Israel in countering subterranean threats.

International perspective:

The arms supply to Israel occurs within a complex geopolitical context, where the U.S. balances its support for Israel with calls for the protection of civilian life and respect for international law during military operations.

This story was first published on jpost.com.