US Senators Act against Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia
2 Min Read
A group of US senators disapproves, through a joint resolution, a $650 million arms deal with Saudi Arabia, due to its key role in the war on Yemen.
-
Several US senators attempt to block arms sales to KSA.
Three senators declared on Thursday that they are opposing the Biden administration's first large arms sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to Riyadh's role in the war on Yemen.
Republicans Rand Paul and Mike Lee, as well as Democratic caucus member Bernie Sanders, submitted a joint resolution of disapproval to oppose a proposed $650 million in US arms sales to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
While many US lawmakers perceive Saudi Arabia as a key Middle East ally, they have criticized the country for its role in the war on Yemen, which is widely regarded as one of the world's greatest humanitarian disasters.
It is noteworthy that the deal approved by the US State Department includes 280 AIM-120C-7/C-8 advanced medium-range air-to-air (AMRAAM) missiles and 596 LAU-128 launchers, in addition to containers, support equipment, spare parts, engineering and technical support provided by the US government and contractors.
This comes after the Biden administration approved the sales of 280 air-to-air missiles to Saudi Arabia, a key aggressor in the war on Yemen, causing the country to experience the worst humanitarian disaster in our time.
Ilhan Omar: It is simply unconscionable to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia
Ilhan Omar, the Democrat congresswoman and lawmaker, filed legislation to block the arms sale to Saudi Arabia. The file was dubbed 'the joint measure of disapproval.'
"We should never be selling human rights abusers weapons, but we certainly should not be doing so in the midst of a humanitarian crisis they are responsible for. Congress has the authority to stop these sales, and we must exercise that power," Omar said in a statement on her website.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
