MIDDLE EAST: The United States is planning to sell Israel $139 million worth of air-launched bombs, including 500 "bunker-busters" able to penetrate Iran's underground nuclear facilities, according to Israeli security sources.
The Haaretz newspaper yesterday quoted a Pentagon report as saying the planned procurement sought "to maintain Israel's qualitative advantage and to advance US strategic and tactical interests".
The US embassy in Israel had no comment, referring queries to Washington. Israel's Defence Ministry also declined comment.
However, a senior Israeli security source who confirmed the Haaretz story said: "This is not the sort of ordnance needed for the Palestinian front. Bunker-busters could serve Israel against Iran or possibly Syria."
Haaretz quoted Israeli government sources as saying the sale, including 4,500 other guided munitions, was not expected to go through until after the US elections in November.
Earlier this month, Haaretz said Israel sought to obtain the US-made one-tonne "bunker-buster" bombs for a possible future strike against atomic development programme of its arch-foe, Iran.
Israel considers Iran to be a strategic threat.
Tehran denies hostile designs, saying its nuclear programme has peaceful purposes only. This week, it rejected international calls to comply with a UN International Atomic Energy Agency's demand that it halt all uranium-enrichment activities.
Among the nuclear facilities which Iran has declared are uranium mines near the city of Yazd and a uranium-enrichment plant in Natanz incorporating large underground buildings which could accommodate thousands of gas centrifuges.
Western diplomats have accused Iran of having several undeclared facilities close to Tehran thought to be related to uranium-enrichment, a process the United States and some other countries believe Tehran will use to produce fissile material for weapons. - (Reuters)