31-01-2026

US Approves Major Arms Deals to Israel and Saudi

Date: 31-01-2026
Sources: foxnews.com: 1 | nytimes.com: 1 | straitstimes.com: 1 | washingtonpost.com: 1
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Image Source:

Source: foxnews.com

Image content: The image depicts a formal meeting between military personnel from Israel and the United States. The main subject or scene shown is a conference room where two groups of men in military uniforms are seated on opposite sides of a long table, engaged in a discussion. The people visible are men in various military uniforms, including green, blue, and camouflage attire, with some wearing insignia or badges on their sleeves. The objects visible include a long, light-colored wooden table, black chairs, water bottles, plates of food, notepads, pens, and flags representing Israel and the United States. A concise 2-3 sentence description of the image is: A group of men in military uniforms from Israel and the United States are seated around a long table, engaged in a formal meeting. The table is set with water bottles, plates of food, and notepads, and features flags of both countries. The room has a formal atmosphere, with wooden walls and a sense of official business being

Summary

The Trump administration has approved significant arms sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia, worth nearly $16 billion, as part of its new National Defense Strategy that labels Israel a 'model ally'. The deals include Apache attack helicopters, Patriot missiles, and other military equipment, amid heightened tensions with Iran and controversy over Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

Key Points

  • The US has approved $6.7 billion in arms sales to Israel and $9 billion to Saudi Arabia.
  • The deals include Apache attack helicopters, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, and Patriot missiles.
  • The Trump administration has bypassed congressional review to push through the arms sales.
  • The National Defense Strategy highlights Israel as a 'model ally' and aims to empower it to defend itself.
  • The moves are seen as a demonstration of US commitment to Israel's security and national interests in the region.

Articles in this Cluster

Trump strategy calls Israel 'model ally' in new national defense doctrine | Fox News

The Trump administration's new National Defense Strategy (NDS) labels Israel a 'model ally' and outlines a plan to further empower it to defend itself and promote shared interests. The strategy comes ahead of talks on the next Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing U.S. military aid to Israel. Influential conservative groups argue that direct aid to Israel should be phased out to 'reduce US leverage,' while experts say a new MOU would likely extend beyond funding alone to include joint research and development, co-production, and intelligence sharing. The strategy highlights the importance of revitalizing the American defense industrial base and notes that allies purchasing U.S. systems help strengthen domestic production while enabling partners to shoulder greater responsibility for regional security.
Entities: Donald Trump, Israel, United States, Pete Hegseth, Jonathan RuheTone: neutralSentiment: positiveIntent: inform

Trump Officials Bypass Congress to Push Billions in Weapons Aid to Israel - The New York Times

The US State Department, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has announced plans to send $6.5 billion in weapons aid to Israel, bypassing the congressional review process. This is the third time the Trump administration has circumvented this process to send weapons to Israel. The aid includes Apache attack helicopters, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, AW119 Koala light helicopters, and power packs for armored personnel carriers. The decision has been met with criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who argue that it undermines Congress's constitutional oversight role. The aid comes amid controversy over Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in significant Palestinian casualties.
Entities: Marco Rubio, Israel, United States, Congress, House Foreign Affairs CommitteeTone: negativeSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

US approves approves major arms deals to Israel, Saudi | The Straits Times

The United States has approved major arms deals to Israel and Saudi Arabia, worth billions of dollars, amid heightened tensions with Iran. The State Department greenlit a $3.8 billion sale of Apache attack helicopters to Israel and a $9 billion sale of Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia. The moves are seen as a demonstration of the US commitment to the security of Israel and its national interests in the region.
Entities: United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran, GazaTone: neutralSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

U.S. approves almost $16 billion in arms sales to Israel, Saudi Arabia - The Washington Post

The United States has approved arms sales worth nearly $16 billion to Israel and Saudi Arabia, with $6.7 billion going to Israel and $9 billion to Saudi Arabia. The deals come as the Middle East remains tense with President Donald Trump considering military action against Iran.
Entities: United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, President Donald Trump, IranTone: neutralSentiment: negativeIntent: inform