Some of the bombs that Israel dropped on Beirut to kill Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah were likely made in the US, a new analysis of footage of the bombardment reveals.
Israeli jets pummeled the Lebanese capital with 15 “bunker buster” bombs Friday in a relentless aerial assault that took out the terror group’s leader.
The munitions weigh 2,000 pounds each and are designed to penetrate deep underground before exploding to deal maximum damage.
Former senior US Army explosive ordinance technician Trevor Ball, who reviewed footage of the operation as well as its aftermath, told the outlet he believes US-made BLU-109 bombs were among those used in the strike.
Ball said he believes Israeli fighter jets also used least four smaller 535-pound bombs were equipped with US-made Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) systems, which convert “dumb” bombs into precision-guided smart bombs.
While the BLU-109s contain considerably less explosive power than their 2,000-pound MK84 counterparts, Ball said the slimmed-down payload makes them better able to penetrate fortified underground targets such as those favored by many terror groups in the region.
Friday’s strike was the culmination of a multi-year effort by Israeli intelligence operatives, who were able to track Nasrallah, 64, to his underground command center in Beirut thanks to an intricate campaign of computer hacking and surveillance work.
Israel deployed some 80 tons of bunker buster bombs in the attack against the Hezbollah co-founder, who had survived numerous previous assassination attempts.
Nasrallah’s death was confirmed by the Islamic militant group Saturday, sparking a wave of impassioned reactions both in celebration and condemnation.
A senior Israeli official told The Post that taking out the Hezbollah leader was “a very tough call” and that they were anticipating “repercussions” as a result.
“But we are playing the long game, because Israel has to exist in the long game, so that’s why we took this action,” he said.
Nasrallah assumed command of Hezbollah in 1992, and with Iran’s backing, he set out to destroy the Jewish state through whatever means necessary.
The group’s tactics frequently included terror attacks on civilian targets both within Israel and beyond.
