Facebook Twitter (X) Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
The United States government has officially approved a significant arms deal with Israel totaling approximately $6.67 billion. This decision by the State Department comes during a period of fragile stability, as a ceasefire—which began in October 2025—continues to be tested by ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip. Despite the formal agreement to stop fighting, reports indicate that nearly 500 Palestinians have been killed since the truce took effect, adding to a staggering death toll that has exceeded 71,000 since the conflict escalated in late 2023.
The bulk of this multi-billion-dollar package is dedicated to high-end aerial and ground machinery. Specifically, Israel has been cleared to purchase 30 Apache attack helicopters, manufactured by Boeing and Lockheed Martin, for $3.8 billion. These helicopters have been a central part of Israeli military operations in both the West Bank and Gaza. Additionally, the deal includes nearly $2 billion for infantry assault vehicles and hundreds of millions more for light utility helicopters and other military contracts. While the U.S. frequently provides Israel with billions in direct military aid, these specific transactions are framed as formal sales.
The State Department defended the move by stating that the sale is vital to U.S. national interests, emphasizing a long-standing commitment to ensuring Israel maintains a “strong and ready self-defense capability.” However, the timing and nature of the deal have drawn sharp criticism. International human rights organizations and United Nations experts have repeatedly urged Washington to freeze weapons shipments, arguing that these supplies provide the means to continue a war that many international observers have characterized as genocidal.
The regional military landscape is shifting elsewhere as well. Alongside the Israeli deal, the U.S. approved a $9 billion sale of 730 Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia. These systems are designed to intercept incoming aerial attacks and are intended to bolster the region’s integrated missile defense. This sale occurs against a backdrop of heightened tension involving Iran. President Donald Trump recently noted that a large U.S. naval “armada” has been moved closer to Iranian waters, signaling a potential for direct confrontation.
In response to these rising stakes, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently held a discussion with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. During the call, the Crown Prince made a clear diplomatic pivot, stating that Saudi Arabia would not allow its territory or its airspace to be used for military strikes against Iran by any outside party. This highlights a complex geopolitical dynamic where the U.S. is heavily arming its traditional allies even as those allies attempt to navigate their own security boundaries to avoid a wider regional war.