The US Department of State has notified Congress of a planned $8bn (£6.4bn) arms sale to Israel, an American official has confirmed to the BBC. The weapons consignment, which needs approval from House and Senate committees, includes air-to-air missiles to be used against airborne threats, including drones, the official said.

The State Department has informed Congress of a planned $8 billion weapons sale to Israel. U.S. officials say some of the weapons could be sent through current U.S. stocks but the majority of the package would take a year or several years to deliver.

The US State Department is planning to sell $8 billion in arms to Israel, marking what will likely be the Biden administration’s last weapons sale to its ally.