US Intelligence Assessment: Significant Proportion of Israeli Munitions Used in Gaza are 'Dumb Bombs'
US intelligence assessment reveals that nearly half of the munitions dropped by Israel on Gaza since October 7 are unguided 'dumb bombs' This alarming revelation deepens the divide between Israel and the US, highlighting a growing rift
A new US intelligence assessment reveals that nearly half of the air-to-ground munitions used by Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza since October 7 have been unguided, or "dumb bombs." The assessment, compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and described by three sources who have seen it, states that approximately 40-45% of the 29,000 air-to-ground munitions used by Israel have been unguided, while the remainder have been precision-guided munitions.
Israel's use of unguided munitions in densely populated areas like Gaza poses a significant risk to civilian lives, as they are less precise and can result in higher civilian casualties. This has led President Joe Biden to criticize Israel's "indiscriminate bombing" in Gaza.
IDF spokesperson Nir Dinar declined to comment on the type of munitions used, while Major Keren Hajioff stated that as a military committed to international law and a moral code of conduct, they are working to minimize harm to civilians that Hamas has forced into the role of human shields. She emphasized that their war is against Hamas, not the people of Gaza.
According to experts who spoke with CNN, the use of unguided munitions by Israel at the rate estimated by the US contradicts the Israeli assertion that they are making efforts to reduce civilian casualties.
Brian Castner, a former Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officer who currently works as a senior crisis advisor on arms and military operations for Amnesty International, expressed surprise and concern, stating, "I'm extremely surprised and concerned."
Growing rift between Israel and US
"Using the weapons when they are hitting their targets precisely is bad enough. It becomes a significant problem of civilian harm if they lack that accuracy, and if there is no benefit of the doubt that the weapon is landing where the Israeli forces intended," Castner commented.
The assessment report has been released during a delicate phase in US-Israeli relations. The White House faced difficulty in reconciling Biden's statement accusing Israel of "indiscriminate bombing" with the simultaneous assertion that Israel is working to safeguard civilians. This has led to a deepening divide between the two nations regarding Israel's military actions in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which was initiated in response to Hamas' killing of over 1,200 Israelis on October 7.
Biden stated on Tuesday that Israel is losing the support of the international community as the death toll in Gaza continues to rise. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, over 18,000 Palestinians have been killed in the past two months. The US is also facing increasing international isolation as it refuses to endorse calls for a cease-fire in the conflict.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan is set to begin a two-day trip to Israel on Thursday, during which he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, Sullivan will engage in "extremely serious conversations" with Israeli officials and discuss efforts to minimize harm to civilians.
Marc Garlasco, a former United Nations military analyst and war crimes investigator, who served as chief of high-value targeting on the Pentagon's Joint Staff in 2003, stated that the use of unguided munitions in densely populated areas like Gaza significantly raises the likelihood of missing the target and causing harm to civilians. According to a US official speaking to CNN, the Israeli military is believed to be employing unguided bombs in tandem with the tactic of "dive bombing," which involves dropping a bomb while steeply diving in a fighter jet. The official claimed that this method improves the precision of the bombs by getting them closer to the target, and that the US believes an unguided munition dropped via dive-bombing is just as accurate as a guided munition.
Garlasco emphasized that in densely populated areas, the Israelis should opt for the most precise weapons available. He pointed out that unguided munitions have a high degree of variability that can result in significantly different levels of accuracy. Additionally, he highlighted that the US has intentionally phased out the use of unguided munitions over the past ten years. While it's unclear what type of unguided munitions the Israelis have been using, experts have suggested that they could be M117 bombs, based on photos posted by the Israeli Air Force showing fighter aircraft armed with similar-looking bombs.
The US has supplied Israel with unguided munitions, including 5,000 Mk82 bombs, according to a source familiar with recent weapons transfers, confirming a Wall Street Journal report. Additionally, the US has provided systems capable of upgrading these munitions into "smart" ones, such as the Joint Direct Attack Munitions guidance system and the Spice Family Gliding Bomb Assemblies. The US has already transferred approximately 3,000 JDAMS to Israel since October 7 and has informed Congress of its intentions to transfer Spice Family kits valued at $320 million. Kirby stated on Wednesday that Israel is "doing everything they can to reduce civilian casualties." However, the US has consistently encouraged Israel to be more precise and careful in targeting Hamas fighters in Gaza, as reported by CNN.
According to CNN's report on Wednesday, the Biden administration does not intend to impose any conditions on the military aid it is giving to Israel. Despite increasing pressure from Democratic lawmakers and human rights organizations to halt weapons supply unless Israel does more to safeguard civilians, a US official stated that Biden prefers a strategy of quiet pressure to encourage Israel to change its tactics. CNN's Kevin Liptak and Michael Williams provided additional reporting.
