US to supply Israel with 'Spice bombs' used by India in Balakot strike. What are they?

Amida devastating military operation in Gaza, with a tragically high civilian death toll, the Biden administration has chosen to move forward with a $320 million arms deal for Israel.

The deal centreson the transfer of Spice Family Gliding Bomb Assemblies, a type of smart bomb known for its high accuracy, from a US subsidiary of an Israeli defence company to the Israeli government, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

What are Spice Bombs?

Spice (Smart, Precise Impact, Cost-Effective) bombs are air-to-ground weapons developed byRafael USA, the American branch of one of Israel’s most prominent arms manufacturers.

These bombs belong to a family of guided munitions designed to enhance the precision of unguided bombs, effectively transforming them into GPS-guided munitions.

Spice bombs use advanced guidance kits, integrating INS/GPS (Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System) guidance and electro-optical seekers for precise final targeting.

This technology significantly enhances their accuracy and targeting capabilities, making them more effective in striking intended locations.

The same bombs were used during the Balakot airstrikes in whichthe Indian Air Force on February 26, 2019, targeted the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist camp in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as a response to the Pulwama attack.

The Pentagon has not disclosed the extent of military aid and equipment provided to Israel since the onset of the military operations on October 7.

The transfer coincides with growing international calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, as the civilian death toll resulting from Israeli air strikes continues to mount.

Also watch |Israel-Hamas war: IDF releases video of tunnel destruction: Gaza

On Monday (Nov 6), White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby acknowledged that "many, many thousands of innocent people" have lost their lives in Gaza.

Senior USofficials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have appealed to Israel to consider humanitarian pauses to facilitate the flow of aid into Gaza and the evacuation of civilians. However, the UShas refrained from explicitly advocating for a ceasefire, citing concerns that it might benefit Hamas, reported CNN.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)