Iran nuclear deal: US to sell Israel advanced bunker buster bombs

In a bid to alleviate Israel's fears over an impending nuclear deal with Iran, the US has approved the sale of advanced bombs - including bunker busters - and missiles worth $1.9bn (£1.23bn).

The package includes 3,000 Hellfire missiles for the Israel Air Force's Apache helicopters, as well as hundreds of GPS and laser-guided bombs and missiles. The transferral of Hellfires was suspended in the summer of 2014 over concerns that Israel was using them against civilian targets during its attacks on Gaza.

If the deal is approved by Congress, Israel will also receive other tactical weapons, including 50 BLU-113 Super Penetrator and 700 BLU-109 Penetrator bunker buster missiles.

A US Defence Department statement said: "The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defence capability."

It added: "Israel, which already has these munitions in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing the additional munitions into its armed forces. The proposed sale of these munitions will not alter the basic military balance in the region."