The US formally approves two major arms deals to Israel and Saudi Arabia

The United States on Friday approved two multibillion-dollar arms deals for both Israel and Saudi Arabia, at a time when relations with Iran are under severe strain.

The US State Department announced that it has agreed to sell 30 Apache attack helicopters and related equipment to Israel for $3.8 billion, as the fragile truce in Gaza continues.

The deal is part of a new arms package worth nearly $6.7 billion to Israel, which President Donald Trump has vowed strong support.

“The United States is committed to Israel’s security, and it’s essential to US national interests to help Israel develop and maintain a strong and effective defense capability,” the State Department said, noting that it had informed Congress of the sale.

“This proposed deal is consistent with those goals,” the US State Department added.

The deal also includes the sale of $1.8 billion worth of light tactical vehicles.

The United States spends billions of dollars’ worth of military supplies annually to Israel, mostly in the form of aid, not sales.

Washington has brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after two years of bloody and devastating war in the Gaza Strip.

The Trump administration announced that the ceasefire had entered its second phase, which specifically stipulates the disarmament of Hamas and Israel’s withdrawal from additional areas of Gaza.

The US State Department also announced on Friday the approval of the sale of Patriot air defense missiles to Saudi Arabia worth $9 billion.

The ministry said Riyadh plans to buy 730 Patriot missiles from the United States.

“The deal supports US foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the security of an important non-NATO ally, and a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region,” according to the statement.

Lockheed Martin’s Patriot air defense systems enable interception of ballistic and cruise missiles.