US senators move to block $650m arms sale to Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON, 21 November 2021, (TON): A group of US senators are opposing the Biden administration’s first major arms sale to Saudi Arabia over Riyadh’s role in the conflict in Yemen, three senators announced.

A joint resolution of disapproval to block a proposed $650 million in US arms sales to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was introduced by Republicans Rand Paul and Mike Lee, as well as Bernie Sanders who caucuses with Democrats.

While many US lawmakers consider Saudi Arabia an important partner in the Middle East, they have criticized the country for its involvement in the war in Yemen, a conflict considered one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.

They have refused to approve many military sales for the kingdom without assurances US equipment would not be used to kill civilians.

Activists have said “Saudi Arabia has lobbied heavily against extending a mandate of United Nation investigators who have documented possible war crimes in Yemen by both the Riyadh-led coalition and the Houthi movement.”

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