US Approves Potential Sale of HIMARS Rockets to Morocco for Estimated $524.2 Mln

A US M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) fires a missile during a joint military drill between the Philippines and the US called Salaknib at Laur, Nueva Ecija province, northern Philippines on Friday, March 31, 2023. (AP)
A US M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) fires a missile during a joint military drill between the Philippines and the US called Salaknib at Laur, Nueva Ecija province, northern Philippines on Friday, March 31, 2023. (AP)
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US Approves Potential Sale of HIMARS Rockets to Morocco for Estimated $524.2 Mln

A US M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) fires a missile during a joint military drill between the Philippines and the US called Salaknib at Laur, Nueva Ecija province, northern Philippines on Friday, March 31, 2023. (AP)
A US M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) fires a missile during a joint military drill between the Philippines and the US called Salaknib at Laur, Nueva Ecija province, northern Philippines on Friday, March 31, 2023. (AP)

The US State Department has approved the potential sale of HIMARS artillery rocket systems and related equipment to Morocco in a deal valued at up to $524 million, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

The State Department has also approved the possible sale of Joint Stand Off Weapons and related equipment to Morocco for an estimated cost of $250 million, the Pentagon said.

It said the principal contractors for the HIMARS will be Lockheed Martin; L3Harris; Raytheon; COBHAM; Oshkosh Defense; AAR Corp; and AM General LLC.

The principal contractor for the Joint Stand Off Weapons will be Raytheon, the Pentagon said.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.