US to lift ban on offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia
The US State Department stated that the Biden administration has decided to lift the ban on offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. This decision of America reversals a three-year-old policy to put pressure on Saudi Arabia to end the Yemen conflict.
A senior departmental official reportedly acknowledged that the State Department of the US was lifting its ban on certain air-to-ground weapons supplies to Saudi Arabia.
He also said they would consider new weapon transfers in a situation consistent with the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy. He revealed Biden administration briefed Congress this week on its decision to lift the ban.
According to media reports, the US may resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia as early as next week. The US government was reportedly notifying relevant officials about its decision to lift the ban on offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia on August 9, 2024.
One senior official in the Biden administration stated the Saudis have fulfilled their part of the deal. Following this, the US is now ready to fulfill theirs.
The Biden administration imposed a ban on weapons sales to Saudi Arabia in 2021 while citing the military campaign of Saudi Arabia against the Houthis in Yemen. Because it resulted in a heavy death toll of civilians.
Houthis is a militant rebellion group based in Yemen allegedly supported by Iran to carry out airstrikes and other attacks in Saudi Arabia. Saudia also launch attacks on Houthis in retaliation. However, Saudi Arabia and the Houthis reached a UN-led peaceful agreement for a ceasefire in March 2022.
US administration officials stated there had not been any Saudi bombings in Yemen when they reached a ceasefire agreement. Moreover, there have been also no reports of cross-border gunfire from Yemen into Saudi Arabia in these three years.
Hence, State Department officials stated they also note the positive steps of Saudi Ministry of Defense has taken over the past three years. They have significantly improved their civilian harm prevention processes. He gave credit for this to the work of US trainers and advisors.
According to US law, members of the Congress Assembly must examine significant international arms agreements before they are finalized.
Several members of all American parties had previously questioned the sale of US offensive weapons to Saudia. They cited several human rights concerns and the impact of Saudia’s campaign on civilians in Yemen.
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However, this opposition from Congress members has decreased in the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel and due to changes in the way the Yemeni campaign is conducting its operations against the US and Israel since then.
The conflict between Yemen and Saudi Arabia is considered one of several proxy conflicts involving Saudi Arabia and Iran. Houthis toppled a Saudi-backed government from the Yemeni capital, Sanaa in late 2014. Since then, conflict has risen between the Saudi-led military alliance and the Houthis.
However, the recent US decision to lift the ban on weapons sales to Saudia seems an attempt to control Houthis. It aims to undermine the influence of Iran, especially in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
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