WASHINGTON, July 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Departmenthas approved the sale of $785 million in bombs to the UnitedArab Emirates for the U.S.-led campaign against Islamic Statemilitants in Syria and Iraq, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
A statement said the Defense Security Cooperation Agency,which facilitates foreign arms sales, told lawmakers on Tuesdaythat the sales had been approved. Lawmakers have 30 days toblock the sale, although such action is rare since deals arecarefully vetted before any formal notification.
The proposed sale includes 14,640 bombs and guidance kits,along with other munitions. The kits turn unguided bombs intoprecision munitions with navigation systems.
Washington views the UAE as an important Sunni Arab ally in the fight against Islamic State, a Sunni group that has takenover parts of Syria and Iraq and has supporters and sympathizersaround the world who have carried out bombings and shootings ofcivilians.
The UAE's Al Dhafra Air Base hosts about 3,500 U.S. troopsand fighter and reconnaissance aircraft used against themilitants. The UAE has taken part in air strikes against IslamicState in Syria, although U.S. officials would like Gulf Araballies to expand their contributions to the air campaign.
Separately, the U.S. State Department also approved the saleof 246 missiles and other equipment to Japan for $821 million,to be used for defense at sea over East Asian and WesternPacific airspace, the Pentagon said. The missiles would be usedon two new destroyers being built by Japan.
The principal contractors will be Raytheon Co andBAE Systems, the Pentagon said. (Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati; editing by Grant McCool)