The claim has drawn significant attention amid fears that sensitive US technology could be exposed during Israel’s operations across Lebanon. Lebanese officials have not publicly confirmed whether the device is in their custody or how they intend to handle the US request.
The United States has asked Lebanon to return an unexploded GBU-39B precision-guided bomb found in Beirut’s southern suburbs, fearing the weapon’s advanced technology could fall into the hands of China, Russia or Iran, according to Lebanese media reports.
The bomb was reportedly part of Israel’s recent strike on the Harat Hreik district, a Hezbollah stronghold. A Lebanese outlet, Al-Markaziya, citing Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar television and Israeli media, said one of the munitions failed to detonate and was recovered intact.
The GBU-39B, a Small Diameter Bomb used by the US and its allies, contains advanced guidance and targeting systems that Washington is keen to keep out of rival states’ possession.
Reports say the United States urgently contacted Lebanese authorities seeking the unexploded bomb’s return, stressing the security risks if adversaries were able to study or reverse-engineer it.
The claim has drawn significant attention amid fears that sensitive US technology could be exposed during Israel’s operations across Lebanon. Lebanese officials have not publicly confirmed whether the device is in their custody or how they intend to handle the US request.
WHAT THE GBU-39B BOMB CAN DO
According to the US Air Force, the GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb is a 250-pound, precision-guided munition designed for all-weather use, day or night. The bomb uses GPS-based navigation to strike fixed or stationary targets with high accuracy, and its compact size lets aircraft carry more weapons per mission while reducing the risk of collateral damage.
The GBU-39B can hit targets more than 40 nautical miles away and can be programmed for single or multiple strikes. Target coordinates are loaded into the bomb before release, either on the ground or by the aircrew in flight. Once launched, it navigates independently using a GPS and inertial guidance system.
Each smart-carriage rack can hold four of these 250-pound munitions, allowing fighters and bombers to carry multiple SDBs internally or on external hardpoints.
