Washington – Beirut: Europe and the Arabs – Agencies

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the United States will supply Saudi Arabia with F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets for the first time.

Speaking at an investment forum in Miami, Trump said, "For the first time, we have designated the Kingdom a major non-NATO ally, and for the first time, we have agreed to sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia. The F-35 is an amazing aircraft, and we are selling it at a very reasonable price."

This announcement follows previous statements by Trump in November 2025, when he was preparing to receive Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, where he announced his readiness to sell the aircraft to Saudi Arabia. On November 18, Trump met with the Crown Prince at the White House and reiterated his position.

US media reports indicate that this deal may face some difficulties, especially given Israel's opposition to the sale. However, Trump's announcement today confirms the deal's progress, at a time when the region is witnessing a military escalation as the US-Israeli war against Iran continues for the 28th consecutive day. The F-35 is considered one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, possessing sophisticated technological capabilities that are subject to strict export controls. Washington's approval of its sale to Saudi Arabia comes as part of strengthening defense cooperation with a key non-NATO ally.

Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced on Friday that its air defenses successfully intercepted six ballistic missiles and nine drones launched from Iranian territory. In a statement, the ministry indicated that the total number of missiles intercepted since the start of the Iranian attacks has reached 378 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,835 drones.

According to the statement, these attacks resulted in the deaths of two members of the armed forces, a Moroccan civilian contractor with the army, and eight civilians of Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, and Indian nationalities. The number of wounded reached 171, of various nationalities.

The UAE Ministry of Defense affirmed its continued readiness to resolutely confront any threats targeting the country's security and sovereignty. The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced on Friday that four people were killed and eight others wounded in an Israeli airstrike targeting the town of Siksikieh in southern Lebanon. An RT correspondent reported that the Israeli strike targeted an inhabited house in a densely populated residential area at the coastal entrance to Siksikieh in the Sidon district.

According to reports, one of the dead was a woman seven months pregnant.

With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and concerns that disruptions to maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz could have serious repercussions for humanitarian needs and agricultural production, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has established a task force focused on developing and proposing technical mechanisms specifically designed to address humanitarian needs related to the strait and facilitate trade in fertilizers and related raw materials.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that, given the evolving conflict in the Middle East and the risks of escalation, any disruptions to maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz threaten to have cascading consequences for humanitarian needs and agricultural production in the coming months. He added that “while the Secretary-General is committed to doing everything possible to achieve a comprehensive and lasting settlement to this dispute, immediate action is essential to mitigating these consequences.”

He explained that the task force will be led by UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira da Silva, and will include representatives from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the International Chamber of Commerce. He added that additional entities may be invited to participate as needed.

Dujarric stated that, inspired by the spirit of relevant UN initiatives—including the UN Verification, Inspection and Monitoring Mechanism for Yemen, the Black Sea Grain Carrier Initiative, and the UN Mechanism for Gaza established by Security Council resolution 2720—“this new mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz aims to facilitate trade in fertilizers, including the movement of associated raw materials.”

He said that the mechanism will be activated and operationalized in close consultation with the Member States concerned, with full respect for national sovereignty and established international legal frameworks. Dujarric added that "if these efforts are successful, they will also contribute to building trust among Member States regarding the diplomatic approach to the conflict and will constitute a valuable step towards a broader political settlement."

He stated that, within his broader peacebuilding mandate, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Jean Arnault, will lead the political efforts to engage with the Member States concerned, supported by the task force.