When Congress comes back from recess, S. 2296, the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will come up for amendment/debate on the Senate floor. As always, the base bill includes some key provisions related to the Middle East and funding for Israel. Also, as always, a huge number of amendments to the bill were offered (877 as of 10/3/25), including many related to the Middle East and Israel. See below for details from the base bill, followed by a list of Middle East-related amendments. Many/most of these may not get a vote on the floor, but they are all worth paying attention to, since NDAA amendments are good indicators of members’ priorities (with respect to both policy and grandstanding).

NOTE: As of 9/4/25, the base text of the bill that the Senate is amending is NOT the bill itself, but is the text of Senate Amendment 3748, an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute offered by Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Wicker (R-MS) [which mirrors all the Middle East/Israel provisions discussed below].

Middle East/Israel in S. 2296 (bill text being brought to the floor)

Subtitle B–Matters Relating to Syria, Iraq, and Iran

• Sec. 1211. Extension of authority for reimbursement of certain coalition nations for support provided to United States military operations.
• Sec. 1212. Extension and modification of authority to support operations and activities of the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq.
• Sec. 1213. Extension of authority to provide assistance to vetted Syrian groups and individuals.
• Sec. 1214. Extension and modification of authority to provide assistance to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
• Sec. 1215. Extension and modification of authority to provide certain support.
• Sec. 1216. Security and oversight of al-Hol and Roj camps.
• Sec. 1217. Limitation on use of funds for reduction or consolidation of United States Armed Forces bases in Syria.
• Sec. 1218. Limitation on availability of funds for the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq.

Subtitle E–Other Matters

• Sec. 1251. Middle East integrated air and missile defense architecture. [Requires the Secretary of Defense to “continue to seek to cooperate with allies and partners in the Middle East with respect to implementing an integrated air and missile defense architecture to protect the people, infrastructure, and territory of such allies and partners from cruise and ballistic missiles, manned and unmanned aerial systems, and rocket attacks from Iran and groups linked to Iran.” Also requires a detailed report on “further implementation of an integrated air and missile defense architecture in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command.”]
• Sec. 1253. Enhancing security partnership with Jordan and Lebanon. [Requires the Secretary of Defense, pursuant to existing authorities, to “provide assistance, including training, equipment, logistics support, supplies, and services, to the Government of Jordan and the Government of Lebanon for the purpose of supporting and enhancing efforts of the military forces of Jordan and the military forces of Lebanon to ensure the territorial security of Jordan and Lebanon.” Also requires the submission of a detailed report to Congress describing the plan to provide this assistance.]
• Sec. 1255. Extension and modification of United States-Israel anti-tunnel cooperation. [Increases funding for this program from the previous $50 million to $80 million, and extends the program’s end date from 12/31/26 to 12/31/28.]
• Sec. 1256. Extension and modification of United States-Israel cooperation to counter unmanned aerial systems. [Increases funding for this program from the previous $55 million to $75 million, and extends the program’s end date from 12/31/26 to 12/31/28.]

Subtitle C–Missile Defense

• Sec. 1534. Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system and Israeli cooperative missile defense program co-development and co-production. [Provides: not more than $60 million to Israel for Iran Dome; not more than $40 million for Israel for the David’s Sling Weapon System; and not more than $100 million for Israel for the Arrow 3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program]

Middle East/Israel-related Amendments Submitted to S. 2296

(IRAN) SA 2917, offered by Schatz (D-HI), to add a section, “REPORT ON IMPACTS OF SANCTIONS ON MILITARIES OF CERTAIN ADVERSARIES.” This section would require a report to Congress on “the impacts of sanctions imposed by the United States on the armed forces and proxy forces of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

(IRAN) SA 2925, Offered by Coons (D-DE), to add to the bill a new subtitle, “Defending International Security by Restricting Unacceptable Partnerships and Tactics,” aka the “DISPRUPT Act,” targeting Iran, China and North Korea

(IRAN, & OTHERS – MAYBE EVEN ISRAEL?) SA 2943, offered by Merkley (D-OR), to add a section entitled, “STATEMENT OF POLICY WITH RESPECT TO DEFINITION OF TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION.” Per this statement, “It is policy of the United States that the term `transnational repression’ refers to a range of tactics deployed by a foreign government, or agents or proxies of a foreign government, to reach beyond their borders to intimidate, silence, harass, coerce, or harm individuals, such as political dissidents, activists, journalists, political opponents, religious and ethnic minority groups, international students, and members of diaspora and exile communities.” NOTE: this definition seemingly could apply to Israeli government efforts to influence US laws and policies in a manner designed to suppress criticism/activism of Israel in the United States…

(QATAR) SA 3067, offered by Murphy (D-CT), to add a section entitled, “PROHIBITION ON TRANSFER OF EXECUTIVE AIRLIFT AIRCRAFT OF FOREIGN ORIGIN TO NONGOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.” The section – which is clearly aimed at Qatar gifting a plane to Trump – states, “No executive airlift aircraft of foreign origin may be transferred to a nongovernmental entity until the aircraft has served as an executive airlift aircraft for at least its entire service life.”

(ISRAEL/BOYCOTTS) SA 3103, offered by Scott (R-SC), to add a section entitled,, “REPORTS ON FOREIGN BOYCOTTS OF ISRAEL.”

(HEZBOLLAH) SA 3207, offered by Curtis (R-UT) and Rosen (D-NV), to add a section entitled, “KEEPING HEZBOLLAH OUT OF LATIN AMERICA.”

(HEZBOLLAH) SA 3229, offered by Curtis (R-UT), to add a section entitled, “STRATEGY TO COUNTER IRANIAN AND HEZBOLLAH INFLUENCE OPERATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA.”

(IRAN & FRIENDS, MAYBE EVEN ISRAEL?) SA 3243, offered by Kennedy (R-LA), to add a section entitled, “PROHIBITION ON ALLOCATIONS OF SPECIAL DRAWING RIGHTS AT INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND FOR PERPETRATORS OF GENOCIDE AND STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION.”

(IRAQ AUMF) SA 3337, offered by Kaine (D-VA) and Young (R-IN), to add a section entitled, “REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATIONS FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ.” PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 10/9/25

(IRAN) SA 3338, offered by Scott (R-SC), to add a section entitled, “REPEAL OF SUNSET OF IRAN SANCTIONS ACT OF 1996.”

(TURKEY) SA 3390, offered by Schiff (D-CA), to add a section entitled, “SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO THE ARREST AND CONTINUED DETENTION OF EKREM IMAMOGLU.”

(IRAN/YEMEN) SA 3417, offered by Budd (R-NC and Kelly (D-AZ), to add a section entitled, “DISPOSITION OF WEAPONS AND MATERIEL IN TRANSIT FROM IRAN TO HOUTHIS IN YEMEN.”

(MIDDLE EAST INTEGRATION/NORMALIZATION) SA 3425, offered by Ernst (R-IA) to add a section entitled, “MIDDLE EAST DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION COOPERATION INITIATIVE.”

(SPYWARE – COULD IMPACT ISRAEL) SA 3496, offered by Van Hollen (D-MD) and Blackburn (R-TN), to add a section entitled “FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SPYWARE.”  This section would impose visa restrictions for misuse of foreign commercial spyware and a report on misuse of such spyware.

(ARMS EXPORTS/HUMAN RIGHTS – WHAT ABOUT ISRAEL?) SA 3575, offered by Cornyn (R-TX) and Warner (D-VA), to add a section entitled, “REVIEW OF EXPORT CONTROLS ON ITEMS WITH CRITICAL CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.”

(NO $$ FOR US MILITARY OPS IN YEMEN W/O CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL) SA 3590, offered by Sanders (I-VT) and Welch (D-VT), to add a section entitled, “LIMITATION ON MILITARY OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES IN YEMEN.” This section bars the Department of Defense from engaging in military operations or activities “in or affecting the territory, airspace, or waters of the Republic of Yemen, unless such operations or activities have been authorized by Congress.” It also clarifies that this section does not prohibit operations against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula or ISIS-Yemen, nor does it “limit or disrupt any non-lethal intelligence, counterintelligence, or investigative activities in the Republic of Yemen by the United States Government.”

(GAZA HUMANITARIAN) SA 3592, offered by Sanders (I-VT), Welch (D-VT), Schiff (D-CA), Van Hollen (D-MD) and Kaine (D-VA), to add a section entitled, “SENSE OF CONGRESS ON HUNGER IN GAZA,” stating that it is the sense of Congress that: “(1) the humanitarian crisis and acute suffering of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the suffering of the hostages and hostage families is gravely concerning; and (2) the President, the Secretary of State, and the heads of other relevant United States Government agencies should urgently use all available diplomatic tools to bring about the release of the hostages, immediate cessation of the blockade on food and humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, and a durable end to the conflict in Gaza.”

(NO $$ FOR US MILITARY OPS IN GAZA) SA 3593, offered by Sanders (I-VT) and Welch (D-VT), to add a section entitled, entitled “PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO DEPLOY FORCES TO GAZA.” This section bars the use of Dept of Defense 2026 funds “(1) to deploy the United States Armed Forces to Gaza; (2) for any activity, with respect to Palestinians, related to their displacement within or removal from Gaza, or forced transfer to designated zones; or (3) to participate in, fund, approve or concur on a license for, approve or concur on a license for export of United States-origin weapons in support of, issue a contract for, or facilitate armed security activities or services in Gaza by United States persons, unless such activities or services have been authorized by an Act of Congress.”

(NO $$ TO SUPPORT ISRAELI ANNEXATION OF WEST BANK) SA 3595, offered by Sanders (I-VT), Welch (D-VT), and Schatz (D-HI), to add a section entitled, ”PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO ASSIST IN ANNEXATION OF THE WEST BANK.” The section bars the use of Dept of Defense 2026 funds “to carry out any activity, including negotiations or policy discussions, that recognizes the sovereignty of Israel over Gaza, the West Bank, or other geographic areas which came under the administration of the Government of Israel after June 5, 1967.”

(MIDDLE EAST MILITARY INTEGRATION/NORMALIZATION) SA 3622, offered by Risch (R-ID), to add a section entitled “COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS TO COUNTER UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS.” Among other things, it authorizes the President “to enter into cooperative project agreements with Israel, Jordan, and countries on the Arabian Peninsula under the authority of section 27 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2767) to carry out research on and development, testing, evaluation, and joint production (including follow-on support) of defense articles and defense services to detect, track, and destroy armed unmanned aerial systems that threaten the United States and its partners in Israel, Jordan, and on the Arabian Peninsula.”

(ADDING DOS AUTH BILL TO NDAA) SA 3608, offered by Risch (R-ID and Shaheen (D-NH), to add to the NDAA the full text of the FY26 Department of State Authorization Act, which includes: Sec. 5401, FOREIGN INFORMATION MANIPULATION AND INTERFERENCE STRATEGY; Sec. 5503. Report on security conditions in Damascus, Syria, required for the reopening of the United States diplomatic mission; and Sec. 5744. Repeal of Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019.

(IRAN) SA 3623, offered by Risch (R-ID and Sullivan (R-AK), to add a section entitled “ENHANCED IRAN SANCTIONS.”

(SYRIA) SA 3635, offered by Shaheen (D-NH), to add a section entitled, “CAPACITY BUILDING FOR DEFENSE FORCES,” authorizing the Department of Defense “to provide counter-ISIS support and training assistance to the Syrian authorities– (1) to build their capacity to contribute to counterterrorism needs in Syria; and (2) to support core United States national security objectives.”

(SYRIA) SA 3636, offered by Shaheen (D-NH) to add a section entitled, “COUNTERING CAPTAGON PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION.”

(SYRIA) SA 3637, offered by Shaheen (D-NH), to add a lengthy new subtitle entitled, “Syria Support Act of 2025.”

(SYRIA) SA 3662, offered by Shaheen (D-NH) and Paul (R-KY), to add a section entitled,  “REPEAL OF CAESAR SYRIA CIVILIAN PROTECTION ACT OF 2019.”

(WEST BANK) SA 3756: Offered by Kaine (D-VA), to add a section, “PROHIBITION AGAINST THE DEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN GAZA AND THE WEST BANK.”

(ANS) SA 3748: Offered by Wicker (R-MS), deleting the entire text and replacing it with an amended version of the entire bill. PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 10/9/25, as amended.

(STATE AUTH BILL) SA 3767: Offered by Risch (R-ID), to add the full text of the FY26 State Department Authorization Act to the bill, including various provisions related to Iran and Syria.

(STATE AUTH BILL) SA 3779: Offered by Risch (R-ID), to add the full text of the FY26 State Department Authorization Act to the bill, including various provisions related to Iran and Syria.

(STATE AUTH BILL) SA 3791: Offered by Risch (R-ID), to add the full text of the FY26 State Department Authorization Act to the bill, including various provisions related to Iran and Syria.

(SAUDI ARABIA) SA 3804: Offered by Markey (D-MA), to add a new section entitled the “Stopping Activities Underpinning Development In Weapons of Mass Destruction Act” or the “SAUDI WMD Act” (see S. 4946, introduced 12/2/20)

(STATE AUTH BILL) SA 3819: Offered by Shaheen (D-NH) and Risch (R-ID), to add the full text of the FY26 State Department Authorization Act to the bill, including various provisions related to Iran and Syria. PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 10/9/25

(MIDDLE EAST NORMALIZATION) SA 3822, to amend SA 3748 (the ANS): Offered by Ernst (R-IA), to add a new section entitled “Middle East Defense Technology Innovation Cooperation Initiative”

(STATE AUTH BILL) SA 3830: Offered by Risch (R-ID) and Shaheen (D-NH), to add the full text of the FY26 State Department Authorization Act to the bill, including various provisions related to Iran and Syria.

(LIFTING SYRIA SANCTIONS) SA 3870: Offered by Shaheen (D-NH), to repeal the “Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003” and the “Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012”

(LEGISLATING TRUMP’S ANTI-ICC EXECUTIVE ORDER) SA 3871 to SA 3748: Offered by Moody (R-FL), to add a new section to the bill entitled, “Imposing, Maintaining, and Enforcing Sanctions With Respect to the International Criminal Court.”

(SYRIA REPORT & CERTIFICATION) SA 3889 to SA 3748: Offered by Graham (R-SC), to require a report every 180 days on the government of Syria.

(SYRIA REPORT) SA 3899 to SA 3748: Offered by Graham (R-SC), to require a report every 180 days on the government of Syria. PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 10/9/25

(MIDDLE EAST PEACEKEEPERS IN GAZA) SA 3905 to SA 3748: Offered by Cantwell (D-WA), to add a new section to the bill entitled, “Sense of Congress on Role of Multinational Peacekeeping Missions in Supporting Peace in the Middle East.” Also see: Cantwell press release – Cantwell Introduces Proposal to Establish Multinational Peacekeeping Force to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Gaza [“Cantwell amendment to the pending National Defense Authorization Act would say Congress wants an immediate ceasefire, organization of a multinational force to deliver food, water & medical supplies in Gaza”]

(MIDDLE EAST PEACEKEEPERS IN GAZA) SA 3914 to SA 3748: Offered by Cantwell (D-WA), to add a new section to the bill entitled, “Sense of Congress on Role of Multinational Peacekeeping Missions in Supporting Peace in the Middle East.” NOTE: This is a slightly tweaked version of SA 3905, above.