According to Reuters, the Pentagon has informed Congress of a military sale worth $65 million to Israel. The sale includes bombs, spares, repair parts and US technical assistance.

This deal will be the first publicly announced sale of US military equipment to Israel since the end of the war with Lebanon in 2006.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency provided a notice to Congress stating that Israel had requested 3,500 MK-84 'general-purpose' bombs, spares, repair parts and US technical assistance.

The notice said "Israel's strategic position makes it vital to United States' interests throughout the Middle East."

"It is vital to the US national interest to assist Israel in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability," the Pentagon added.

The last announced sale of US military equipment to Israel was in the period just preceding the war with Lebanon in 2006, when Israel purchased $210 million-worth of jet aviation fuel.

Reuters reported that a US investigation has begun into the possible misuse of US-origin military equipment in the war with Lebanon. Three types of US cluster munitions were discovered in Lebanon and were responsible for civilian deaths.

MAAN