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US to resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia

Aug 9, 2024, 3:55pm EDT
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The US government will lift its ban on the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported Friday, reversing a three-year-old policy.

The Biden administration imposed the ban in 2021 in a bid to persuade the kingdom to end its campaign against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Both parties in Congress had expressed concerns over the high civilian toll in Yemen as well as over Riyadh’s human rights abuses more broadly.

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However, opposition to sales of the weapons appears to have softened as turmoil roils the Middle East following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Sales of air-to-ground munitions could resume as early as next week, Reuters reported.

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