The United States has approved a major arms sale worth over $15.67 billion to Israel and Saudi Arabia. According to the US State Department, the sale comes amid the possibility of US military strikes against Iran.
According to an official press statement, the sale to Israel totals $6.67 billion, and the sale to Saudi Arabia totals $9 billion.
What is Israel buying?
According to the US State Department, the sale to Israel is divided into four separate packages: 30 Apache attack helicopters, 3,250 light tactical vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and light utility helicopters.
The press statement said the Apache helicopters, which will be equipped with rocket launchers and advanced targeting gear, are the largest component of the total package, valued at $3.8 billion.
The next largest component is the light tactical vehicles, which will be used by the Israel Defense Forces to “extend lines of communication” for personnel and logistics and will cost $1.98 billion, it added.
The State Department said that under these deals, Israel will spend an additional $740 million on power packs for armored personnel carriers already in service since 2008.
It added that the remaining $150 million will be spent on a small but unspecified number of light utility helicopters to complement similar equipment it already possesses.
In separate but nearly identical statements regarding Israel, the State Department said that none of the new sales would affect the military balance in the region and that they would all “enhance Israel’s ability to counter current and future threats by improving its capacity to defend its borders, critical infrastructure, and population centers.”
The statement said, “The United States is committed to Israel’s security, and assisting Israel in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability is critical to U.S. national interests.”
Sale to Saudi Arabia
The department said Saudi Arabia is purchasing the most advanced hit-to-kill weapon system, 730 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles and related equipment, which “will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by improving the security of a key non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region.” According to reports, the PAC-3 provides simultaneous air and missile defense capabilities.
It added that “this enhanced capability will protect the ground forces of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and regional partners and will significantly improve Saudi Arabia’s contribution to integrated air and missile defense systems in the region.”
The announcement came after Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met with top Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
Why are Israel and Saudi Arabia buying weapons?
According to the Associated Press, the arms sales come as U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing his ceasefire plan for Gaza, aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas conflict and rebuilding the Palestinian territory devastated by two years of fighting that killed thousands of people.
While the ceasefire has largely held, significant challenges lie ahead in its next phases, including the deployment of an international security force to monitor the agreement and the difficult process of disarming Hamas.
(With agency inputs)