US Support Amid Israel-Hamas War
The Israel-Hamas War has seen the US continue to send ammunitions to Israel, despite a slowdown in other arms supplies. Recent reports indicate that heavy American bombs are still massively supporting the Israeli offensive. This ongoing support comes as the US cautions Israel against its offensive on Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza that houses over a million civilians. American officials have stated they will only supply defensive weapons to Israel, not offensive ones, but the latest reports suggest otherwise.
Continued Supply of American Ammunition
Since the Israel-Gaza conflict began last October, American ammunitions have been flooding into Israel. A recent report quoting unnamed American officials indicates there’s been no let-up in American arms supply, fueling the conflict in the region. The ammunition provided to Israel includes 14,000 highly destructive 2,000-pound bombs, 6,500 of 500-pound bombs, and 3,000 Hellfire missiles. These air-to-ground weapons are playing a significant role in the ongoing conflict.
Types of Ammunition Sent to Israel
The Hellfire missile, capable of being fired from drones and helicopters, targets ground-based assets from vehicles to buildings and even tanks. The 2,000-pound bombs, released from fighter planes, can be enhanced for precision attacks against large structures, with a blast radius that can destroy everything within 35 meters. Fragments and shrapnel from these bombs can cause damage within a 350-meter radius. The 500-pound bombs, while having a smaller impact radius of 20 meters, are equally lethal. In densely populated areas, these weapons can cause significant civilian casualties.
Potential Impact on Civilian Casualties
American officials have also revealed that the US has shipped 1,000 bunker-buster bombs, 2,600 air-dropped small-diameter bombs, and other munitions. This is the first time clear numbers have emerged on the type of weapons fueling Israel’s war. Since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire, raising concerns that the conflict could escalate into a full-scale war. Meanwhile, the American and Israeli governments have remained silent on the flow of deadly arms that could increase civilian casualties in Gaza.