The United States approved multibillion-dollar weapons sales to both Saudi Arabia and Israel amid heightened tensions with Iran. On Friday, the State Department authorized a $3.8 billion sale of 30 Apache attack helicopters to Israel, which agreed to an unstable ceasefire in Gaza. “The United States is committed to Israel’s security,” the department stated. The package also included a $1.8 billion joint light tactical vehicle sale.
Israel and Hamas had reached an October ceasefire that mostly halted two years of war. Tensions persist elsewhere in the region as the U.S. deploys military contingents near Iran. On Friday, the State Department approved a $9 billion sale to Saudi Arabia for 730 Patriot missiles, used for defense against incoming attacks.
Israel conducted a major bombing campaign against nuclear and other military sites in Iran last year, facing growing pressure from protests against the clerical state. The U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Saudi Arabia was being designated as a “major, non-NATO ally,” granting it economic and military benefits without security commitments. The White House also revealed plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia but in less advanced models compared to Israel’s fleet, aligned with U.S. law ensuring an Israeli military edge.
Earlier in November, Trump noted the ceasefire was in its second phase, focusing on Hamas disarming. Saudi Arabia expressed caution over attacking Iran due to fears of regional instability impacting their reputation as business hubs.