US approves $23 billion in arms sales to Arab allies as Iran war escalates

In notices sent to Congress on Thursday, the State Department said the U.S. would sell:

• To the United Arab Emirates, more than $8 billion in air defense systems and related materiel, including drones, air-to-air missiles and F-16 fighter jet munitions.
• To Kuwait, $8 billion in missile defense and radar systems.
• To Jordan, $70.5 million of aircraft and munitions support.

Another $6 billion in sales to the three countries was approved but did not require congressional notification because they involved adjustments to previously approved packages or purely commercial sales, a State Department official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the details of those sales are not public.

(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)