US to lift ban on offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia

The Biden administration has decided to lift a ban on US sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, reversing a three-year-old policy.

Biden had ordered the pause on the sale of precision-guided munitions and other weapons to pressure Riyadh to end what is called the war in Yemen.

The State Department was lifting its suspension on certain transfers of air-to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia, a senior department official confirmed. “We will consider new transfers on a typical case-by-case basis consistent with the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy,” the official said, according to Reuters.

The administration briefed Congress this week on its decision to lift the ban, a congressional aide said. One source said sales could resume as early as next week. The US government was moving ahead on Friday afternoon with notifications about a sale, a person briefed on the matter said.

“The Saudis have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours,” a senior Biden administration official said.

Under US law, major international weapons deals must be reviewed by members of Congress before they are made final.