Site of the strike on Beirut's southern suburbs that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, on Sept. 29, 2024. (Credit: AFP)
Mark Kelly, Democratic representative and U.S. senator for Arizona stated on NBC News on Sunday that Israel used "Mark 84 bombs weighing 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) produced in the United States" to kill Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. This is the first time an official, whether Israeli or American, has specified the type of munition used in the massive bombing last Friday.
When asked on the channel about the possibility of imposing conditions on Israel regarding arms deliveries, the senator suggested that "the time has not yet come."
"We are seeing the use of more munitions equipped with a JDAM guidance kit, and we continue to supply these weapons," he emphasized, adding that he was "confident" that the bomb used to "eliminate Nasrallah" was a "guided bomb from the Mark 84 series."
In the same interview, Kelly stated that it was "a good thing" that the leader of the Shiite party was dead and that it sent "a strong message."
A video released by the Israeli military following its operation in southern Beirut shows at least eight consecutive planes armed with these 900-kilogram bombs. About fifteen of these bombs are identifiable as the BLU-109 model, manufactured in the U.S. and equipped with a JDAM guidance kit, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz. These bombs are known as "bunker busters," designed to penetrate the ground before exploding, with each explosion paving the way for the next.
Exports of this model by the United States were suspended last May during the Israeli offensive in Rafah, as a new shipment to Israel was planned, with Washington fearing that the use of these extremely destructive bombs could result in significant civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.