US lifts ban on sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia - Reuters
The US prepares to lift the ban on the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia (photo: wikiwand.com)
The administration of President Joe Biden has decided to lift the ban on the sale of American offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, reports Reuters.
Five sources familiar with the matter have confirmed the decision to lift the ban.
According to a congressional aide, the administration informed Congress this week about its decision to revoke the ban. One source indicated that weapon sales could resume as early as next week.
Another source noted that the US government was preparing an announcement on the sales for Friday afternoon.
"The Saudis have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours," said a senior White House official.
Under US law, major international arms sales must be reviewed by members of Congress before a final decision is made.
Why did the US impose a ban on the sale of weapons
The war in Yemen is seen as one of several proxy battles between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Houthis ousted the Saudi-backed government from Sana'a in late 2014 and have been fighting against the Saudi-led military coalition since 2015.
In 2021, the Biden administration banned arms sales to Saudi Arabia and demanded an end to the war in Yemen. This decision was prompted by the kingdom's campaign against the Houthis, which resulted in a high number of civilian casualties.
However, the positions of Congress and the White House shifted following the Hamas attack on Israel in October last year, as well as in the context of regular attacks by Yemeni Houthis on civilian shipping in the Red Sea.
A representative of the Biden administration noted that since the Saudi-Houthi truce under UN mediation in March 2022, Saudi aviation has not conducted any airstrikes in Yemen, and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi territory has virtually ceased.
Saudi Arabia's relations with Israel and the US
In January of this year, Riyadh resumed negotiations with the US on defense cooperation, which had been suspended due to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war last year.
However, the talks have been challenging, as Riyadh supports the creation of an independent state for Palestinians, a notion that Israel does not endorse.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delayed the normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia, citing the upcoming US presidential election in November as a key factor.
