WSJ: US delays shipment of 6,500 JDAM kits to Israel

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article titled “US Postpones Sending Precision Weapons to Israel,” detailing the delay in sending specific weapons to Israel.

According to Nancy A. Youssef and Jared Malsin, the Joe Biden administration has postponed the delivery of ammunition while urging Israel to refrain from involving the IDF in Rafah. However, despite this pressure, the IDF launched an operation in Rafah.

The WSJ report mentions a shipment of weapons and ammunition valued at $260 million. Specifically, it highlights 6,500 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) kits in this shipment, which convert unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions.

John Kirby, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, declined to comment on whether any arms sales to Israel had been suspended during a White House briefing on May 6. He emphasized, “Our security commitment to Israel is ironclad.”

Seth Binder, a US weapons sales expert, remarked that if the delay in delivering JDAM kits is intentional, it would mark the first time in this conflict that the US administration has taken such action on a weapon known to be used in the Gaza Strip.

Additionally, since March, the Biden administration has not moved forward with the process of notifying Congress of another $1 billion arms deal for Israel, including tank ammunition, military equipment, and mortar shells, U.S. officials said.

The potential deals comprised $700 million worth of 120mm tank shells, $500 million worth of military vehicles, and $100 million worth of 120mm mortar shells, US officials say.