The United States has approved massive new arms sales to key Middle Eastern allies, authorizing transfers worth nearly $16 billion to Israel and Saudi Arabia at a moment of extreme regional volatility. The deals, announced late Friday by the State Department, include advanced attack helicopters for Israel and a major missile defense system for Saudi Arabia. This significant infusion of weaponry arrives as the region grapples with a tenuous ceasefire in Gaza that has failed to stop Palestinian casualties and with the looming threat of U.S. military action against Iran, creating a contrast between diplomatic overtures and militaristic posturing.
A $6.67 Billion Arsenal for Israel
The approved sales to Israel, totaling $6.67 billion, consist of several packages designed to significantly enhance its offensive and logistical capabilities. The largest component is a $3.8 billion deal for 30 new Apache AH-64E attack helicopters, which will be equipped with rocket launchers and advanced targeting systems. A further $1.98 billion will supply 3,250 light tactical vehicles to extend the mobility of the Israel Defense Forces. Additional packages include $740 million for power packs to refurbish older armored personnel carriers and $150 million for new light utility helicopters. The State Department stated these sales would "enhance Israel’s capability to meet current and future threats" and are consistent with the U.S. commitment to Israeli security. However, the announcement drew immediate criticism from within Congress. Representative Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, accused the Trump administration of rushing the deals in a manner that "disregard[s] Congressional oversight and years of standing practice".
Saudi Arabia's $9 Billion Defense Upgrade
For Saudi Arabia, the U.S. approved a $9 billion sale of 730 Patriot air defense missiles and related equipment. The State Department framed the sale as bolstering the security of a "major non-NATO ally," a new and formalized status President Donald Trump conferred upon the Kingdom just weeks earlier. This designation, celebrated at a White House dinner with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, deepens defense cooperation by easing weapons transfers, allowing U.S. arms storage in Saudi Arabia, and making the Kingdom eligible to purchase items like depleted uranium ammunition. The announcement followed the Crown Prince's pledge to increase Saudi investments in the U.S. to nearly $1 trillion. Trump also revealed plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, making it the first Middle Eastern nation other than Israel to acquire the advanced aircraft, though U.S. law guarantees Israel will retain a more advanced version to maintain its "qualitative military edge".
Regional Tensions
The enormous arms sales were approved as multiple crises simmer. The Trump administration is actively weighing military strike options against Iran, and a major U.S. naval contingent remains deployed in nearby waters. This context frames the Patriot sale as part of an "integrated air and missile defense system in the region," implicitly aimed at Iranian capabilities. Concurrently, the administration is attempting to advance the second phase of its Gaza ceasefire plan, which focuses on the complex and uncertain process of disarming Hamas and reconstructing the devastated territory. A senior U.S. official recently indicated that Hamas disarmament would be accompanied by "some sort of amnesty" for its fighters, a significant detail publicly floated as part of the negotiations.
Ceasefire Reality
Despite the declared ceasefire, the situation on the ground remains dire. A United Nations official reported to the Security Council that "hundreds of Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began," including many women and children, and that Israeli military operations with air strikes and shelling continue. The humanitarian crisis is severe, with families struggling to hold down tents in the rain and farmers unable to import basic supplies. Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, the UN cites an escalation of Israeli military operations, settler violence, and arrests. The approval of 19 new settlement outposts, including in areas evacuated in 2005, is described by Nicaragua's UN representative as a deliberate action that "openly seek[s] to destroy the contiguity of the Palestinian land and foreclose the possibility of a viable Palestinian State".