US-Israel strike key arms deal

A major US arms deal with Israel sends Iran a "very clear signal" that military action remains an option to stop it from going nuclear, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said in Tel Aviv yesterday.
Hagel's remarks were made shortly before his arrival in the Jewish state at the start of a six-day regional trip likely to be dominated by worries over Iran's nuclear programme and Syria's civil war.
Asked if a multi-billion dollar arms package with Israel was designed to convey a message that a military strike remains an option, he said: "I don't think there's any question that's another very clear signal to Iran".
The trip, his first since taking over the Pentagon nearly two months ago, was likely to see Hagel putting the finishing touches on plans to sell $10 billion worth of advanced missiles and aircraft to Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in a bid to counter the threat posed by Iran.
The deal, which was unveiled on the eve of Hagel's departure, will see Israel obtaining anti-radiation missiles designed to take out enemy air defences, radar for fighter jets, aerial refuelling tankers and Osprey V-22 tilt-rotor transport aircraft.
It will also see the sale of US F-16 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates and sophisticated missiles to Saudi Arabia.