US Resumes Offensive Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia
The United States announced on Monday that it will resume the sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, ending a suspension that was put in place at the beginning of the Biden administration due to concerns about human rights violations in the Yemen war.
State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel stated that the Saudi government has met its obligations regarding civilian harm mitigation measures, leading to the decision to lift the ban on certain types of air-to-ground munitions.
President Biden’s administration initially halted offensive weapons sales to Riyadh amid concerns over civilian casualties in the conflict with the Houthis in Yemen. However, a UN-mediated truce has held since 2022, resulting in a decrease in hostilities.
Patel emphasized that the decision to resume weapon sales is not connected to other diplomatic efforts in the region, but rather based on Saudi Arabia’s improved compliance with international standards.
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