March 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on

Thursday approved potential arms sales to three Middle East

countries worth more than $16.5 billion as the war with Iran

intensifies.

The State Department approved the potential sale of

missiles, drones, radar systems and F-16 munitions and upgrades

to the United Arab Emirates for a combined total of more than

$8.4 billion, it said in statements.

Also approved were possible sales of lower-tier air and

missile defense sensor radars to Kuwait for an estimated cost of

$8 billion and aircraft and munitions support to Jordan for an

estimated cost of $70.5 million.

The sales follow Iran's attacks on energy infrastructure in

response to Israeli attacks on its gas facilities, which marked

the biggest escalation of the nearly three-week war, causing gas

prices to surge and oil prices to rise further.

The State Department said the principal contractors in the

sales will include RTX Corporation ( RTX ), Northrop Grumman ( NOC )

and Lockheed Martin Corporation ( LMT ).