WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States government approved on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) two massive arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to help them defend themselves against Iran.

The more than $5 billion in missile defense and related sales came after US President Joe Biden's visit to the Middle East last month, during which he met with numerous regional leaders in Saudi Arabia. Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been hit in recent months by rocket attacks from the Iran-backed Houthi rebel movement in Yemen.