The U.S. State Department approved military sales exceeding $8.6 billion to key Middle East partners on Friday, invoking emergency powers to bypass congressional oversight.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined the sales were essential to U.S. national security interests amid ongoing regional tensions. The packages target Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, focusing on air defense systems and precision-guided munitions to replenish stockpiles depleted during recent conflicts.

Qatar received the largest share, with $4.01 billion for Patriot air and missile defense replenishment services from contractors RTX and Lockheed Martin, plus $992.4 million for Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) laser-guided rocket kits from BAE Systems. Kuwait secured $2.5 billion for an integrated battle command system, involving RTX, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. Israel and the UAE each obtained APKWS kits valued at $992.4 million and $147.6 million, respectively.

This marks the third instance in the current Iran conflict where the Trump administration has used emergency provisions to expedite arms transfers, following similar actions earlier in the war. The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28 and entered a fragile ceasefire more than three weeks ago, though negotiations over Iran's nuclear program remain deadlocked.

During the fighting, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at U.S. bases, Israeli targets, and Gulf allies, including over 500 missiles and 2,500 drones at the UAE alone. The attacks killed civilians and soldiers, damaged infrastructure, and strained missile defenses across the region. Qatar and other recipients cited fears of depleting interceptors as production lags behind demand.

The move underscores Washington's commitment to bolstering allies' defenses against Iranian aggression. Israel has shared some Iron Dome components with the UAE, while U.S. officials worry about their own dwindling stockpiles. Delivery timelines remain unclear, as manufacturing large quantities of advanced systems can take years.

The approvals align with broader U.S. strategy in the Middle East, where a naval standoff persists in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran threatens escalation.