What Happened
Emergency Sales Bypass Congressional Review Amid Regional Tensions
The US has approved $8.6 billion in arms sales to Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, citing an ’emergency’ that allows the deals to bypass congressional review. The sales include a range of defense systems, such as Patriot air and missile defense and the Integrated Battle Command System. The move comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the US and Israel having launched attacks on Iran 60 days prior. The State Department has stated that the sales support US foreign policy and national security objectives, as reported by Breaking Defense.