US Presses Lebanon to Return Unexploded GBU-39B Bomb Amid Fears of Tech Exposure

The United States has reportedly asked Lebanon to hand over an unexploded GBU-39B precision-guided bomb allegedly recovered from a recent Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs. The request, reported by Lebanese outlet Al-Markaziya, has heightened geopolitical concerns over the potential exposure of sensitive American military technology.

According to the report—citing Hezbollah-linked Al-Manar TV and Israeli media—the GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb was part of Israel’s strike on Harat Hreik, a densely populated Hezbollah stronghold. One of the munitions failed to detonate and was allegedly retrieved intact from the scene.

The GBU-39B contains sophisticated GPS-guided targeting and navigation systems that the US is eager to prevent from falling into the hands of rival states such as Iran, Russia or China. The unexploded device, if examined, could reveal critical details about American weapons design and electronic guidance components.

Washington Urges Immediate Return

Reports indicate that US officials contacted Lebanese authorities urgently, warning that the weapon’s technology must be secured to avoid possible reverse-engineering by adversaries.

Lebanese officials have not confirmed whether the bomb is in their possession, nor have they indicated how they plan to respond to the US request. The uncertainty has fuelled widespread speculation, given the current Israeli military operations across Lebanon and Hezbollah’s active involvement.

The incident comes at a volatile moment, with Israel stepping up strikes on Hezbollah-linked areas following months of escalating cross-border tensions. The prospect of advanced US munitions being recovered in Lebanese territory has added a new layer of complexity to an already volatile battlefield.

What Makes the GBU-39B So Sensitive?

The GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb is a 250-pound, all-weather, GPS-guided munition designed for high-precision strikes with minimum collateral damage. Its compact size allows fighter jets and bombers to carry up to four SDBs per smart rack, enabling multi-target missions in a single sortie.

Key capabilities include:

• Strike range of over 40 nautical miles

• Highly accurate GPS-aided inertial navigation

• Programmable target coordinates loaded before or during flight

• Independent guidance after release

Because it packs advanced miniaturised electronics and precision guidance systems, any opportunity for adversaries to study an intact GBU-39B poses significant national-security risks for the US.

For now, it remains unclear whether Lebanon has the unexploded bomb, and whether Hezbollah had access to it during retrieval. Washington’s insistence underscores the seriousness of potential technology leaks amid the widening conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

The situation continues to evolve as both governments remain tight-lipped.