US lifts ban on offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia

The Biden administration has decided to over-turn a three-year-old policy of pressuring Saudi Arabia to scale back the Yemen war by lifting a ban on U.S sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.

The administration briefed Congress this week regarding its decision to lift the ban. According to a source, sales may resume as early as next week, while another said discussions are still under way.

“The Saudis have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours, returning these cases to regular order through appropriate congressional notification and consultation,” a senior Biden administration official said.