The United States approves arms sales to Saudi Arabia for $5 billion

The United States announced on Friday the approval of a sale of bombs and other defense materials worth $5 billion (about 4.3 billion euros) to Saudi Arabia, in order to "strengthen the security of an important ally" that has been the target of attacks since the start of the war with Iran in February.

"The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's air defense capabilities to address current and future regional threats, strengthen its defense and improve interoperability with systems used by US forces and other partners in the Gulf region," the US State Department detailed in a statement.

Specifically, Riyadh has requested the purchase of JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) bombs, a GPS-guided munition capable of hitting targets about 72 km away, and other supporting defense materials, as well as logistical support for their use. The main contractor for the agreement will be Boeing, manufacturer of this type of bombs.

The sale, which must be approved by Congress in Washington, “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by strengthening the security of an important non-NATO ally,” the statement added.

Saudi Arabia, a world oil power, has been the target of drone and missile attacks by Iranian forces and Yemen's Houthi rebels, an armed movement allied to Tehran, especially since the United States and Israel launched war against Iran on February 28.

The Houthis, who control 30% of Yemen and its capital, Sanaa, had an informal truce with Saudi Arabia since 2022, but with the start of the war in Iran, this agreement has practically been broken. In July, rebels announced a naval blockade against Riyadh and attacked several Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. 10% of the world's crude oil transits through this area and the neighboring Bab el Mandeb Strait.