The Biden administration has decided to lift a ban on US sales of “offensive” weapons to Saudi Arabia, three sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, reversing a three-year-old policy to pressure Riyadh to wind down the Yemen war.
The administration briefed Congress this week on its decision to lift the ban, a congressional aide said. A source said sales could resume as early as next week.
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“The Saudis have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours, returning these cases regular order through appropriate congressional notification and consultation,” a senior Biden administration official said.
Since March 2022, when the Saudis and Houthis entered into a UN-led truce, there have not been any Saudi air strikes in Yemen and cross-border fire from Yemen into Saudi territory has largely stopped.
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Biden had adopted a tougher stance on weapons sales to Saudi Arabia in 2021, citing the campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen.
Yemen’s war is seen as one of several proxy battles between Iran and Saudi Arabia.