The United States has approved multibillion-dollar weapons sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia, underscoring Washington’s strategic commitments in the Middle East at a time of heightened tensions with Iran.
The US State Department said it has approved a US$3.8 billion sale to Israel, including 30 Apache attack helicopters and a US$1.8 billion package of joint light tactical vehicles. The approval comes as Israel maintains a fragile ceasefire in Gaza following two years of conflict with Hamas.
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to assist Israel in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the State Department said, adding that the proposed sale aligns with those objectives.
The United States provides Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance each year, much of it in the form of aid rather than direct sales. Israel and Hamas reached a US-backed ceasefire in October that significantly reduced hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
Regional tensions remain elevated as the United States has deployed a major naval and military presence near Iran. In 2025, Israel carried out a major bombing campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities. Iran has also faced intensified international scrutiny following widespread protests against its clerical leadership, which authorities have violently suppressed.
Separately, the State Department approved a US$9 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, including 730 Patriot missiles, designed to defend against aerial and missile threats.
While Saudi Arabia remains wary of Iran, the kingdom has expressed caution over any direct military confrontation, fearing regional instability that could undermine its ambitions as a global business and investment hub.
Prospects for a historic normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel have dimmed amid Israel’s continued military operations in the Palestinian territories.
The Trump administration said the Gaza ceasefire has entered a second phase, focusing on the disarmament of Hamas. The militant group’s attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, killed 1,221 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed at least 71,667 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
