Washington — The Trump administration approved a massive new series of arms sales to Israel totaling $6.67 billion and to Saudi Arabia worth $9 billion.
The State Department announced the sales to America’s allies in the Middle East late Friday Tensions escalate in the region Regarding the possibility of a US military strike against Iran. It was announced after the department notified Congress of its approval of the sales earlier on Friday.
The sales also come as President Donald Trump moves forward His plan for a ceasefire in Gaza Which aims to end The conflict between Israel and Hamas And the reconstruction of the Palestinian territories after two years of war that left devastation and tens of thousands dead.
Although the ceasefire has largely held, Great challenges await him in his next stagesIncluding the deployment of an international security force to oversee the deal and the difficult process of disarming Hamas.
The ministry said the Saudi sale includes 730 Patriot missiles and related equipment that “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a key non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region.”
“This enhanced capability will protect the ground forces of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and local allies and will significantly improve Saudi Arabia’s contribution” to the region’s integrated air and missile defense system, she added.
The announcement was made after Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met with senior Trump administration officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Sales to Israel are divided into four separate packages, including one for 30 Apache attack helicopters and related equipment and weapons, and another for 3,250 light tactical vehicles.
Apache helicopters, which will be equipped with missile launchers and advanced targeting equipment, make up the bulk of the overall package, worth $3.8 billion, according to the State Department.
The next largest segment is light tactical vehicles, which will be used to transport personnel and logistics to “extend lines of communication” for the IDF and will cost $1.98 billion, she added.
Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, accused the Trump administration of rushing to announce the deals to Israel in a way that would “ignore congressional oversight and years of established practices.”
“The Trump administration has blatantly ignored Congress’ long-standing prerogatives while also refusing to engage Congress on critical questions about next steps in Gaza and broader US-Israel policy,” he said in a statement.
The US State Department said that under these deals, Israel will spend an additional $740 million on power units for armored personnel carriers that have been in service since 2008. It added that the remaining $150 million will be spent on a small but unannounced number of light helicopters to complement similar equipment it already has.
In separate but nearly identical statements on Israel, the US State Department said that none of the new sales would affect the military balance in the region, and that they would all “strengthen Israel’s ability to confront current and future threats by improving its ability to defend Israel’s borders, critical infrastructure, and population centers.”
The two statements stated, “The United States is committed to Israel’s security, and it is important to American national interests to help Israel develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability.”