Trump administration has given its approval for a possible $24.3 billion sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, putting a long-pursued defence deal on a new track. The proposed package includes 48 aircraft and 49 engines, though the sale is not final and still has to clear congressional review before it can move forward.
If the deal is approved, Saudi Arabia would become only the second country in the Middle East to fly the F-35, after Israel, a shift that has already stirred deep unease in Tel Aviv and drawn fresh scrutiny in Washington over what it could mean for the region's military balance.
