BLU-117

The BLU-117 is a type of 2,000-pound, high-explosive, general-purpose bomb. It is part of a significant $2.8 billion arms sale package from the Trump administration to Israel, which includes 40,000 bombs in total, comprising 20,000 MK-84s and 20,000 BLU-117s. This particular sale has become newsworthy due to concerns about the potential for mass civilian casualties, which previously led the Biden administration to pause the delivery of similar munitions two years ago. The recent news highlights the potential approval and delivery of these powerful weapons, underscoring ongoing discussions about arms sales to the region and their implications. The current relevance lies in the re-emergence of this substantial arms deal and the associated ethical and humanitarian considerations it raises in the context of regional conflicts.