United States approves sale of 48 F-35 fighters to Saudi Arabia

“ A proposed sale will increase Saudi Arabia’s ability to deter current and future threats, reinforcing its national defense and improving interoperability with US forces,” Washington’s diplomacy said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia has long sought to acquire F-35 fighters, but Israel — the only country in the region to operate these fighter planes — has expressed strong reservations.

The value of the transaction announced today amounts to $24.3 billion (21.1 billion), according to the US Government statement, which stresses that the transfer of this equipment “will not change the military balance in the region”.

The sale will “increase the number of Saudi Arabian operational aircraft and strengthen its air-air and air-soil self-defense capabilities,” according to the State Department, which said it has already informed the US Congress so that the business is approved in accordance with national law.

This is the latest in a series of major purchases of Saudi Arabian military equipment during this year, in full conflict in the region, initiated on 28 February with the Israeli-American offensive against Iran, which followed the resumption of clashes between the Huthis and the forces of the Yemeni Government, supported by Riyadh.

In early September, the State Department announced the approval of the sale of more than 10,000 bombs to Saudi Arabia for five billion dollars (4.3 billion euros).

After years of relative calm, the war returned two months ago to Yemen, which was dragged into the regional conflict triggered by the United States and Israel's offensive against the Islamic Republic.

The Huthis launched military operations in Yemen since last week against the positions of internationally recognized government forces and took positions in the west of the country along the Red Sea coast and approaching Bab el-Mandeb's narrow strategic.

This maritime passage has been used as an alternative to the Strait of Ormuz, which has been put under military threat since February by Iranian forces, affecting the transit of 20% of world trade in hydrocarbons and the global economy.

The resumption of clashes in Yemen led to cross-bombing between Riyadh's forces and the Huthis, which also blocked the Saudi ships transiting the Red Sea.

The Huthis claim that its operations in Yemen pose no threat to the Red Sea corridor except for the ships belonging to Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter of crude oil.

On Wednesday, Riyadh accused the rebels of attacking the sacred city of Mecca, which receives millions of pilgrims, Sunni and Shia every year, causing a strong reaction in the Arab and Muslim world.

The Huthis vehemently denied the charges, stating that they were attacking only oil facilities or military bases, “away from sacred places.”.

The European Union today transmitted its “total solidarity” to Saudi Arabia and asked the Huthis to cease “all military actions”.

The Axios portal revealed at the end of last week, citing two Washington officials, that the President of the United States, Donald Trump, refused requests from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to attack the Huthis, claiming he does not want to deviate from the military focus in Iran.

Oil prices went up again above the $100 mark last week with this new crisis and, on Wednesday, the price of the North Sea Brent barrel, the international reference, was around 104 dollars.

The fragile truce agreed in 2022 between the parties in conflict collapsed in July, when the Huthis challenged Riyadh's control over Yemeni airspace, allowing a plane with Iranian representatives to land in Yemen.

The conflict that plagues the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula has forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations.