US bypasses Congress to sell ‘Israel’ $151.8mln munitions

The United States has approved a $151.8 million weapons sale to “Israel” using emergency authority, bypassing the usual congressional review process, the US State Department announced on Friday.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that what he called an emergency situation justified the immediate transfer, allowing the sale to proceed without prior approval from Congress. The announcement comes one week after the United States and “Israel” launched an aggression on Iran.

According to the State Department, “Israel” requested 12,000 BLU-110A/B general-purpose bomb bodies weighing 1,000 pounds each. The primary contractor for the deal will be Repkon USA, a Texas-based defense manufacturer.

In a statement, the State Department said Rubio concluded that the sale serves the national security interests of the United States.

Emergency created by the Trump administration
The decision drew criticism from Democratic lawmaker Gregory Meeks, who argued that invoking emergency authority to bypass congressional oversight reflected poor preparation for the war on Iran.

Meeks said the administration had repeatedly claimed it was fully prepared for the war, adding that the rushed use of emergency powers suggested otherwise, and emphasized that the situation is an emergency created by the Trump administration itself.

This comes as Iran sustains its retaliation against the US-Israeli aggression launched against it on February 28, unabated by the continued attacks by Washington and “Israel”.

Iran continues to strike US assets in the region
Iranian forces have carried out a series of strikes on US military bases across the region as part of the ongoing confrontation, according to a statement released by Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

A spokesperson for the headquarters said the attacks targeted a US military base in the United Arab Emirates, noting that Iranian forces destroyed radar systems and a Patriot air defense battery.

The statement said the strikes were conducted during the 22nd wave of Operation “True Promise 4” on the seventh day of the war, targeting US bases across the region as well as sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.

According to the spokesperson, Iranian forces used precision weapons to strike Al Dhafra Air Base, reportedly destroying advanced radar systems and maintenance facilities for MQ-9 drones, U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, and the US Patriot missile defense system.

The headquarters described Al Dhafra as a key center for US military operations in the region and alleged that the base played a role in attacks carried out against Iran.

The spokesperson also said Iranian forces struck Ali Al Salem Air Base, emphasizing the destruction of early-warning radar systems, support facilities, fuel depots, and the base’s runways used in operations against Iran.

He added that two waves of combined missile and drone attacks targeted Al Udeid Air Base over the past two days. According to the statement, the strikes hit radar systems, air traffic control facilities, satellite communications centers, and refueling equipment.

The headquarters further noted that 11 US soldiers were killed in an attack on a US base at Erbil International Airport.

Meanwhile, Khaibar Shekan missiles were launched toward targets in the occupied Palestinian territories, while another strike reportedly destroyed a headquarters belonging to separatist groups in the Kurdistan region, the statement added.