Trump administration advances $24.3 billion fighter jet deal to Saudi Arabia as Houthis escalate attacks

An F-35 fighter plane takes off from at RAF Lakenheath on January 07, 2026 in Mildenhall, England.Dan Kitwood | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesU.S. President Donald Trump's administration has approved the potential $24.3 billion sale of nearly 50 F-35 warplanes to Saudi Arabia in what is seen as a major boost for the kingdom as it faces intensifying attacks from the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.The package, which was announced on Thursday, includes the sale of 48 of Lockheed Martin's F-35 jets, the world's most advanced fighter aircraft, and 49 Pratt & Whitney engines and other parts."This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region," the State Department said in a statement.The announcement comes as the Houthis have recently ramped up attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia and launched a lightning ground offensive to exercise control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically vital oil choke point. The Trump administration said the proposed deal would help improve Riyadh's capability to deter ...