US Approves $5 Billion Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Tensions with Iran

The US State Department has approved a proposed $5 billion sale of bombs and guidance kits to Saudi Arabia, aiming to strengthen its airborne and homeland defence capabilities against regional threats.

The sale, which still requires approval from US lawmakers, is part of Washington's efforts to bolster the kingdom's defence capabilities amid the ongoing war with Iran.

Saudi Arabia faced drone and missile attacks from Iranian forces and Yemen's Tehran-backed Houthi rebels following the outbreak of the war earlier this year.

In a separate move, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Turkish investment bank Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi Anonim Sirketi and two of its subsidiaries for allegedly helping Iran's shadow banking network transfer oil revenues.