According to a report by The Times of Israel, two US lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that would allow Israel to receive some of America’s most advanced military assets, including 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs and B-2 stealth bombers.
The proposed legislation, known as the Bunker Buster Act, aims to bolster Israel’s capability to strike deeply buried nuclear facilities in Iran should Tehran continue its efforts to develop a nuclear weapon.
The bill was put forward by Representative Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, and Representative Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York. If passed, it would grant the US president the authority to transfer these powerful munitions and aircraft to Israel “to ensure Israel is prepared for all contingencies if Iran seeks to develop a nuclear weapon.”
The initiative follows last month’s US military operation in which American forces dropped over a dozen bunker-busting bombs on Iran’s Fordo and Natanz underground nuclear facilities. These sites, buried deep beneath reinforced layers of concrete and rock, have long posed a challenge for military planners. While Israel struck hundreds of other nuclear and military targets across Iran during the 12-day conflict, it lacked the specialized weapons and stealth aircraft necessary to reach the underground facilities.
This marks the third time Gottheimer has introduced the Bunker Buster Act, having done so previously in 2022 and 2024. On both occasions, the proposal did not advance beyond the House floor. Supporters argue that the bill would help maintain a credible deterrence against Iran’s nuclear program by ensuring Israel has the tools needed to act if diplomacy fails.
The renewed legislative push comes amid heightened regional tensions and persistent concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities. Backers of the bill contend that by strengthening Israel’s military capabilities, the United States also reinforces its own national security interests in the Middle East.
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