U.S. Approves $2.9 Billion Arms Deal with Saudi Arabia Amid Middle East Tensions
NATO Increases Defense Spending by $4 Billion in Response to Rising Global Threats
The State Department announced on Friday that Washington will allocate $3.5 billion to Israel for the purchase of U.S. weapons and military equipment. This funding, which was approved by the U.S. Congress several months ago during Israel’s conflict in Gaza, is now being released.
U.S(Staff Reporter):U.S. Approves $2.9 Billion Arms Deal with Saudi Arabia Amid Middle East Tensions.
A State Department spokesperson announced on Friday that the department informed Congress on Thursday about the government’s plan to release billions in foreign military financing to Israel.
Earlier, CNN reported on the release of these funds, which are part of a $14 billion supplemental aid package for Israel that Congress approved in April.
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, concerns are growing about the potential expansion of Israel’s conflict in Gaza, which has already resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis.
The risk of a broader Middle East conflict has heightened following the recent assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Iran, and Hezbollah’s military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut, which have prompted threats of retaliation against Israel.
Israel Continues Assault on Gaza, Cites ‘Gaps’ in Truce Negotiations”
The latest wave of violence in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on October 7 when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and capturing around 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Since then, according to the Gaza health ministry, Israel’s military operations in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip have resulted in nearly 40,000 Palestinian deaths and displaced almost the entire population of 2.3 million people. This has led to a hunger crisis and accusations of genocide, which Israel denies.
