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3. U.S. Expands Massive Arms Package to Israel and Gulf States

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved $25.8 billion in missile interceptors and other weapons sales to Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates last week, according to a Bloomberg report, significantly expanding a package that Washington had publicly described days earlier as worth roughly $8.6 billion.

The sales reportedly include military equipment destined for Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as regional governments race to replenish air defense stockpiles depleted during the recent war with Iran.

The scale of the package, nearly triple the amount initially disclosed by the U.S. State Department on May 1, highlights growing American concern over the region’s vulnerability to prolonged missile and drone warfare following months of escalation with Tehran.

Emergency approval bypassed review

According to Bloomberg, Rubio used an emergency declaration to authorize the transfers, allowing the deals to bypass the standard congressional review process typically required for foreign military sales.

The discrepancy between the publicly announced figure and the newly revealed total reportedly stems from the administration categorizing parts of the package as modifications or expansions of previously approved deals rather than entirely new agreements.

The move reflects how rapidly regional defense calculations have shifted since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran earlier this year.

Interceptor shortages becoming strategic concern

The weapons package comes as Israel and Gulf countries face mounting concerns over interceptor shortages after sustained Iranian missile and drone attacks tested regional air defense systems.

During the conflict, Iran launched repeated barrages targeting both Israel and Gulf states, forcing countries to consume large numbers of costly missile interceptors over a relatively short period. The issue became particularly urgent after Iran targeted the United Arab Emirates earlier this week despite the ongoing ceasefire, raising fears that the truce remains highly fragile.

According to officials cited by The Times of Israel and Axios, Israel recently deployed an Iron Dome battery and trained personnel to the UAE to assist Abu Dhabi in defending against Iranian attacks during the conflict.

The officials denied separate reports claiming Israel also transferred its highly sensitive Iron Beam laser defense system, saying the technology remains too classified for foreign deployment.