The United States on Friday approved arms sales worth more than $6.5 billion for Israel and $9 billion for Saudi Arabia, deals that come as the Middle East remains on edge with President Donald Trump weighing military strikes on Iran.
The sales were approved by the State Department, according to news releases published through the Department of Defense. Congress has been notified of the approvals, according to the releases.
Israel is set to buy 30 Apache attack helicopters and related equipment for an estimated $3.8 billion and more than 3,000 joint light tactical vehicles worth almost $2 billion, including weapons and personnel carriers. The rest of the sales include light utility helicopters and power packs for armored personnel carriers.
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives,” one of the news releases said.
The State Department also approved the $9 billion sale of 730 advanced Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia, which the release said would “improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing advanced air defense missiles.”
After threatening strikes against Iran in the wake of mass protests that left thousands of Iranians dead, Trump backed away from an attack after foreign allies and military advisers raised concerns about a less-than-adequate U.S. military presence in the region to repel a potential response from Tehran. He has since dispatched the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and other military assets to the Middle East.
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