The Israeli government has asked the United States for advanced “bunker-buster” bombs and refueling planes that can improve its ability to attack Iran’s underground nuclear sites.

Official sources say the request was made during the Israeli Prime Minister’s (Benjamin Netanyahu) visit to Washington on Monday.
A front-page article in a local Israeli newspaper, Ma’ariv, on Thursday disclosed that Obama has assured Netanyahu that Washington would supply Israel with upgraded military equipment in return for assurances that there would be no attack on Iran in 2012.
Isreal is widely assumed to have the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal but its conventional firepower may not be enough to deliver lasting damage to Iran’s distant, dispersed and well-fortified facilities, many experts say.

Israel has limited stocks of older, smaller bunker-busters and a small fleet of refueling planes, all supplied by Washington. Western powers suspect Iran’s uranium enrichment program is aimed at stockpiling fissile material for nuclear weapons.

Iran says it is strictly for civilian energy uses.