Arms trade – War Watch

Arms trade | Defense and Military Forces | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kuwait | Middle East | Missiles and Missile Defense Systems | Qatar | Rubio, Marco | State Department | United Arab Emirates | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

U.S. Fast-Tracks Arms Deals Valued at $8.6 Billion to Mideast Partners
ByAaron Boxerman and Edward Wong May 2, 2026May 2, 2026

The Persian Gulf countries and Israel have faced repeated Iranian attacks during the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. The State Department move bypassed congressional review.

Read More U.S. Fast-Tracks Arms Deals Valued at $8.6 Billion to Mideast Partners
Arms trade | Defense Contracts | Defense Department | Federal Budget (US) | Hegseth, Pete | House Committee on Armed Services | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Missiles and Missile Defense Systems | Production | Senate Committee on Armed Services | Shortages | Stockpiling | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Trump’s Plans to Boost Weapons Production Might Not Deliver for Years
ByHelene Cooper and Eric Schmitt April 30, 2026May 1, 2026

While the defense industry has announced plans to make more munitions, much of that expanded production will not quickly kick in.

Read More Trump’s Plans to Boost Weapons Production Might Not Deliver for Years
Activism | Arms trade | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Europe | Gaza | Germany | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza war | Israel–Iran War | Law | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestine | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Protest | World news

Pro-Palestine activists appear in court over attack on Israeli arms factory in Germany
ByKate Connolly in Berlin April 27, 2026April 27, 2026

Families say ‘Ulm 5’ have been detained under extreme prison conditions since arrest last SeptemberFive pro-Palestinian activists have appeared in court over an attack on an Israeli arms company in Germany, charged with causing approximately €1m of dam…

Read More Pro-Palestine activists appear in court over attack on Israeli arms factory in Germany
Arms trade | Democratic Party | Foreign Aid | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Netanyahu, Benjamin | Sanders, Bernard | Senate | Trump, Donald J | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Senate Blocks Bid to Cancel Arms Sales to Israel as Iran War Deepens Democratic Divide
ByMegan Mineiro April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

Concerns over the Iran war led several Democratic senators who had rejected past bids to curb weapons transfers to Israel to vote to block the sale of bulldozers and bombs.

Read More Senate Blocks Bid to Cancel Arms Sales to Israel as Iran War Deepens Democratic Divide
Arms trade | Australia news | Australian foreign policy | Australian Greens | Australian military | Australian politics | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Lebanon | Mark Butler | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Tony Abbott | US-Israel war on Iran

Greens say Australia should step up pressure on Israel over ‘disastrous, illegal, immoral war’ on Lebanon
ByTom McIlroy and Krishani Dhanji April 10, 2026

Call comes on same day former prime minister Tony Abbott says Australia should send troops to fight alongside US forces in the Middle EastFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastT…

Read More Greens say Australia should step up pressure on Israel over ‘disastrous, illegal, immoral war’ on Lebanon
Antoine Kassis | Arms trade | Assad, Bashar al- | Colombia | Drug Abuse and Traffic | Drug Cartels | Hezbollah | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | National Liberation Army (Colombia) | Syria | Terrorism

After Sting Operation, Cousin of Bashar al-Assad Convicted in Arms for Drugs Deal
ByEphrat Livni April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

The cousin, Antoine Kassis, was found guilty of conspiracy to support a terrorist group, after trying to sell weapons from the fallen regime to a Colombian militia.

Read More After Sting Operation, Cousin of Bashar al-Assad Convicted in Arms for Drugs Deal
Arms trade | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Switzerland | United States | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Switzerland Blocks Arms Sales to U.S. Over Iran War
ByNick Cumming-Bruce March 20, 2026

Swiss law prohibits selling war materiel to countries involved in armed conflict, a policy the country has already cited to block sales to Israel and Iran.

Read More Switzerland Blocks Arms Sales to U.S. Over Iran War
Arms trade | Defense and Military Forces | House Committee on Foreign Affairs | House of Representatives | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Jordan | Kuwait | Mast, Brian J (1980- ) | Meeks, Gregory W | Missiles and Missile Defense Systems | Politics and Government | Rubio, Marco | Senate | State Department | United Arab Emirates | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts | War and Emergency Powers (US)

Trump Officials Bypass Congress to Sell Weapons to U.A.E., Kuwait and Jordan
ByMegan Mineiro and Edward Wong March 20, 2026March 20, 2026

Some of the proposed sales, valued at more than $23 billion, were under review, while others were never sent to Congress. The administration is pushing them through without congressional approval.

Read More Trump Officials Bypass Congress to Sell Weapons to U.A.E., Kuwait and Jordan
Arms trade | Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East | Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022) | Start-ups | Ukraine | United States | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | Zelensky, Volodymyr

Phones ‘Ringing Off the Hook’ for Ukraine Defense Firms as Mideast Seeks Help
ByAndrew E. Kramer, Maria Varenikova and Brendan Hoffman March 13, 2026March 13, 2026

Ukraine wants to leverage its defense expertise into security partnerships and to reap potentially vast profits for its arms industry.

Read More Phones ‘Ringing Off the Hook’ for Ukraine Defense Firms as Mideast Seeks Help
Arms trade | Biden, Joseph R Jr | Defense and Military Forces | Foreign Aid | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Meeks, Gregory W | Rubio, Marco | Trump, Donald J | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

State Department Bypasses Congress to Send Israel More Than 20,000 Bombs
ByEdward Wong March 7, 2026March 7, 2026

The sale had been under informal review in Congress, but the State Department declared an emergency because of the war in Iran.

Read More State Department Bypasses Congress to Send Israel More Than 20,000 Bombs