WASHINGTON –The United States (US) has decided to go ahead with arms salesto Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan, the Radio Pakistan reported.

In a statement, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said these sales willsupport their allies, enhance Middle East stability and help these nationsto defend them.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump cleared the sale of weapons worthbillions of US dollars to Saudi Arabia and other countries, despite strongresistance to the plan from both Republicans and Democrats.

The administration has informed congressional committees that it will goahead with 22 arms deals worth some $8 billion, congressional aides said,sweeping aside a long-standing precedent for congressional review of suchsales.

Some lawmakers and congressional aides had warned earlier this week thatTrump, frustrated with Congress holding up weapons sales like a major dealto sell Raytheon Co precision-guided munitions to Saudi, was consideringusing a loophole in arms control law to go ahead with the sale by declaringa national emergency.

The White House and State Department did not immediately respond torequests for comment.