The Biden administration approved billions of dollars in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a new show of support for two allies crucial to the US fight against Iran and its proxies as conflict escalates in the Middle East.
The State Department notified Congress that it had agreed to sell Does Hellfire and Sidewinder missiles, artillery, tanks and machine gun ammunition to Saudi Arabia in a deal worth more than $1 billion. In August, President Joe Biden lifted restrictions on the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia as a way to pressure Riyadh to end its war against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The Houthis have attacked Red commercial transport the sea since Hamas, designated a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Both groups get funding from Iran, which is in a escalating conflict with Israel.
The State Department has informed lawmakers that it has agreed to provide GMLRS guided missile systems, long-range ATACMS missiles and training and support for both systems to the United Arab Emirates in a $1.2 billion deal. .
If Congress does not move to block the proposed sales, contractors and recipient countries may begin negotiations on contracts that may fall far short of the agreed-upon maximums. RTX Corp. makes the Sidewinder missile. All other arms are done Lockheed Martin corp.
