The U.S. government has decided to lift a ban on selling certain air-to-ground weapons to Saudi Arabia, reversing a policy that was in place for three years. The ban was initially imposed to pressure Saudi Arabia to reduce its involvement in the conflict in Yemen.
A senior official from the U.S. State Department confirmed the change, stating that the U.S. will now consider new arms sales to Saudi Arabia on a case-by-case basis. The decision was first reported by Reuters and has been shared with Congress, which must review major international weapons deals before they can be finalized. Some sales could potentially resume as early as next week.
The U.S. imposed the ban due to concerns about civilian casualties in Yemen and human rights issues. However, opposition to arms sales has softened due to recent turmoil in the Middle East. Additionally, the situation in Yemen has improved since a truce was established in March 2022, with no Saudi airstrikes in Yemen and a significant reduction in cross-border attacks from Yemen.
The U.S. also acknowledged the progress made by Saudi Arabia in reducing civilian harm during military operations, thanks in part to the efforts of U.S. trainers and advisors. The State Department noted that Saudi Arabia had fulfilled its part of the deal, leading to the decision to lift the ban.
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