Exclusive Report: U.S. Intelligence Analysis Reveals Almost 50% of Israeli Bombs Used in Gaza are Non-Precision ‘Dumb Bombs’

A recent U.S. 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, commonly known as “dumb bombs.” This information, detailed by three sources who have seen the assessment from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, indicates that around 40-45% of the 29,000 munitions used by Israel were unguided, while the rest were precision-guided.

The use of unguided munitions, which are generally less accurate, is particularly concerning in densely populated areas like Gaza due to the increased risk to civilians. This could be a factor in the high civilian casualty rates.

President Joe Biden recently commented on Israel’s actions in Gaza, referring to them as “indiscriminate bombing.” The IDF, when asked for comment, did not specify the types of munitions used. Major Keren Hajioff, an Israeli spokesperson, emphasized the military’s commitment to international law and efforts to minimize civilian harm.

However, experts argue that the high use of unguided munitions contradicts Israel’s claims of trying to minimize civilian casualties. Brian Castner, a senior crisis adviser at Amnesty International, expressed surprise and concern over this, emphasizing the danger of using imprecise weapons in populated areas.

The report of Israel’s munitions usage comes amid a sensitive time in U.S.-Israeli relations, with disagreements over Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The conflict has resulted in over 18,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, and has drawn international attention, including growing calls for a ceasefire.

Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, visited Israel to have serious discussions about the conflict, focusing on efforts to minimize civilian harm.

Experts like Marc Garlasco, a former U.N. military analyst, note the high risk of civilian harm and missed targets when using unguided munitions in areas like Gaza. The U.S. believes Israel is employing a technique called “dive bombing” to increase the precision of these munitions, but Garlasco suggests that more precise weapons would be preferable in such densely populated settings.

The U.S. has been moving away from using unguided munitions over the past decade, according to Garlasco. The IDF has responded to the publication of this assessment, stating that they target Hamas military sites based on high-quality intelligence and use skilled pilots and advanced systems to ensure strikes are directed at military targets. They also take into account the need to mitigate harm to civilians.

It’s unclear which specific unguided munitions Israel has used, though the Israeli military has reportedly used M117 bombs. The U.S. has also supplied Israel with unguided munitions, including Mk82 bombs, but also provides systems to convert these into guided munitions.

Despite concerns, the Biden administration currently has no plans to impose conditions on military aid to Israel, as it believes quiet pressure on Israel to change tactics is more effective than threats to withhold weapons.