A member of Saudi security forces attends Abdullah’s Sword military drill as a jet flies by in Hafar Al-Batin, near the border with Kuwait REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser/File Photo
Biden Administration Lifts Ban on U.S. Offensive Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia
Policy Reversal After Three Years
The Biden administration has decided to lift a ban on U.S. sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, according to information provided by five sources familiar with the matter. This decision reverses a three-year-old policy aimed at pressuring Saudi Arabia to de-escalate its involvement in the conflict in Yemen. The administration briefed Congress on this decision earlier this week, with one source indicating that sales could resume as early as next week. A person briefed on the matter confirmed that the U.S. government was proceeding with notifications regarding the sale on Friday afternoon.
Congressional Review and Shifting Opposition
Under U.S. law, major international weapons sales are subject to congressional review before they can be finalized. In recent years, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about the provision of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, citing the humanitarian toll of the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen and broader human rights concerns. However, opposition to these sales has softened in light of the recent turmoil in the Middle East, particularly following Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on October 7, and changes in Saudi Arabia’s conduct in the Yemen conflict.
Regional Security Concerns
The threat level in the Middle East has increased since late last month, with Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, vowing retaliation against Israel following the killing of Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The Biden administration has also been negotiating a defense pact and a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia as part of a broader strategy to normalize ties between Riyadh and Israel, although such normalization remains an elusive goal.
Yemen Conflict and U.S. Involvement
Since March 2022, when Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement entered into a U.N.-led truce, there have been no Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi Arabia has largely ceased, according to an administration official. President Biden initially adopted a tougher stance on weapons sales to Saudi Arabia in 2021, citing the kingdom’s military campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthis, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties.
Ongoing U.S. Military Actions
The conflict in Yemen is viewed as one of several proxy wars between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Houthis, who ousted a Saudi-backed government from Sanaa in late 2014, have been engaged in a protracted conflict against a Saudi-led military coalition since 2015. This war has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and left 80% of Yemen’s population reliant on humanitarian aid. A senior U.S. administration official stated that the U.S. is regularly conducting airstrikes to degrade Houthi capabilities, with these efforts continuing alongside a coalition of partners. The U.S. has designated the Houthis as Specially Designated Global Terrorists and has imposed sanctions on Houthi smuggling networks and military apparatus, with plans to increase pressure in the coming weeks.
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