Arms Sale and Missile Disabling
The US State Department approved a potential $1.96 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, with BAE Systems named as the principal contractor, as the war ramps up in the Middle East.
The Defense Post said the package includes “up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems and their warheads,” and it reported the principal contractor will be BAE Systems in Nashua, New Jersey.
In parallel, US Central Command said U.S. forces fired missiles on and disabled an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf, identifying the commercial vessel as Curacao-flagged M/T Belma.
teleSUR English reported that a U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel sailing toward Kharg Island after firing hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack, adding, “The ship is no longer transiting to Iran.”
Houthis, Abha, and State Rationale
Multiple outlets tied the Saudi sale to tensions involving Yemen’s Houthis and Saudi Arabia, including an attack in the southern Saudi city of Abha on Monday.
Al Jazeera reported that the Houthi attack followed air strikes that hit Sanaa airport, diverting a flight transporting a Houthi delegation returning from the Iranian supreme leader’s funeral, and it said the Houthis blamed Riyadh.
The State Department’s stated rationale for the sale was quoted by Dawn as “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of a major non-Nato ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region.”
Dawn also said the move comes as the United States ramped up waves of attacks on Iran after reimposing a naval blockade, and it quoted the release saying, “There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”
What’s at Stake Next
Al Jazeera described the sale as bolstering Saudi Arabia’s air defences as the US-Israel war on Iran ramps up, and it said the principal contractor would be BAE Systems.
Anadolu Ajansı reported that the State Department cleared a separate $484 million sustainment package for Kuwait for C-17 sustainment and related equipment, alongside the $1.96 billion Saudi package.
In Iran International’s account, US forces disabled the Curacao-flagged oil tanker after it ignored repeated warnings while sailing toward Iran’s Kharg Island, and it quoted CENTCOM saying the US aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the M/T Belma’s smokestack, stopping the vessel from continuing toward Iran.