Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Local Syrian sources: The village of Al-Thala in the western countryside of Sweida was subjected to mortar shelling, with explosions heard in the area.
Occupied Palestine: Very violent Israeli raids target Tal al-Zaatar in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Palestine: 15 martyrs were recovered as a result of the ongoing Israeli raids on the city of Beit Lahia and the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: More than 300 martyrs and 500 wounded in three days of ongoing Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Palestine: The occupation aims to ethnically cleanse the Sultan area near the Zikim settlement.
Occupied Palestine: The IOF is besieging a school housing displaced persons in the Al-Sultan area, north of the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Palestine: Dozens of martyrs and wounded, mostly children and women, in Israeli raids on the northern Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: The Israeli occupation is committing genocide in Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Palestine: The Indonesian hospital is filled with martyrs and wounded after the IOF bombed homes in northern Gaza.
Occupied Palestine: IOF aircraft targeted a tent on Al-Madrasa Street in the Al-Mashrou area, west of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip

US to send $750 mln worth of bombs to Saudi Arabia: WSJ

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Wall Street Journal
  • 13 Aug 2024 21:31
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

This deal includes $290 million worth of GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, which enable accurate strikes from a distance, and $468 million in Paveway IV bombs, which utilize advanced targeting systems.

Listen
  • x
  • The Saudi Arabia flag flies outside the country's consul general's official residence in Istanbul, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. (AP)
    The Saudi Arabia flag flies outside the country's consul general's official residence in Istanbul, Wednesday, October 24, 2018. (AP)

A report by The Wall Street Journal has revealed that the Biden administration is preparing to send Saudi Arabia more than $750 million worth of bombs in the coming months, signaling a significant shift in US-Saudi relations.

The shipments, including 3,000 Small Diameter Bombs and 7,500 Paveway IV bombs, were previously halted by President Biden in 2021 due to alleged concerns over high levels of civilian casualties resulting from Saudi-led operations in Yemen. 

According to WSJ, the decision to resume these shipments reflects the White House's efforts to strengthen ties with Riyadh, with the alleged aim of advancing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and facilitating a potential normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and "Israel."

It adds that the move comes after years of strained relations between the two nations. Biden, who had initially pledged to treat Saudi Arabia as a "pariah" due to its human rights record and the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has gradually softened his stance, particularly following his 2022 visit to Saudi Arabia.

"The Saudis will view this as addressing a strategic stain on relations with the US," said Dana Stroul, a former senior Pentagon official. The decision is also seen as a reward for Saudi Arabia's cooperation on regional security issues, including its openness to discussions on long-term normalization with "Israel."

Related News

Israeli, Syrian officials met secretly in Baku: Report

UN rejects US-backed Gaza aid plan over neutrality concerns

Read more: US announces resumption of offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia

The bombs are expected to enhance Saudi Arabia's capacity to conduct precision airstrikes, particularly using US-made jet fighters. This deal includes $290 million worth of GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, which enable accurate strikes from a distance, and $468 million in Paveway IV bombs, which utilize advanced targeting systems.

US officials have assured Congress that the deliveries will not jeopardize the ceasefire in Yemen, claiming that Saudi Arabia has improved its targeting procedures to minimize civilian casualties.

A senior administration official remarked, "The Saudis have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours," indicating that the US is ready to move forward with these sales in light of Saudi Arabia's alleged adherence to the truce with Ansar Allah and efforts to mitigate civilian harm.

This development follows a long history of tumultuous US-Saudi relations. Previous arms sales were suspended in 2016 after a Saudi airstrike on a funeral hall in Yemen killed at least 155 people, but the Trump administration later lifted some restrictions, approving a $110 billion arms deal.

Biden's initial ban in 2021 specifically targeted arms that could be used in offensive operations in Yemen, although defensive weapons continued to be supplied.

Read more: Netanyahu sabotaging Saudi normalization, north truce: Israeli media

  • United States
  • Israel
  • Yemen
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Iran

Most Read

A boy draped in a Palestinian flag carries a mock rocket during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israeli rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, May 9, 2025 (AP)

Yemen announces hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion Airport

  • Politics
  • 9 May 2025
Palestinians pray over bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment who were brought from the Shifa hospital before burying them in a mass grave in the town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP )

Gaza casualty figures mask a much bigger horror, new study shows

  • Politics
  • 11 May 2025
President Donald Trump, left, greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington (AP)

US pressures 'Israel' for Gaza deal; Witkoff's Israeli rebuke leaked

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, listens during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on May 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli, Syrian officials met secretly in Baku: Report

Israeli settlers lay on the ground as sirens sound amid the detection of a Yemeni missile, May 15, 2025 (Social media)
Politics

Yemeni missile halts Ben Gurion airport activity: Israeli media

500,000 Syrian refugees return since regime change
Politics

500,000 Syrian refugees return since regime change

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, speaks with his Emirati counterpart Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan during their meeting, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday, May 12, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran’s Araghchi: West chose talks after failing militarily

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS