Saudi officers walk by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle fighter jets and guided bomb units at King Salman Air Base in Riyadh on January 25, 2017. (Photo: Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty Images)
Jul 15, 2022
As U.S. President Joe Biden met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Friday, a top official at Human Rights Watch implored the American leader to not lift a ban on the sale of certain weapons to the repressive monarchy as it continues waging an atrocity-laden war in Yemen.
Responding to reports that the Biden administration is considering ending its vague proscription against the transfer of "offensive" weaponry to Saudi Arabia, Michael Page, Human Rights Watch's (HRW) Middle East and North Africa deputy director, warned that such a policy reversal "could lead to fresh rights violations in Yemen."
"Since the beginning of the war in 2015, Human Rights Watch and other groups have documented how the Saudi- and [United Arab Emirates]-led coalition has used U.S. weapons in apparent unlawful airstrikes, including apparent war crimes," wrote Page. "The U.S. government's own report has detailed... oversight failures on these sales."
More than 300,000 Yemenis have died during the seven-year war, 150,000 of them as a direct result of military action, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED). A Saudi-led blockade of Yemen has exacerbated starvation and disease in the war-torn nation of 30 million inhabitants.
"Human Rights Watch has called for the suspension of all sales, both offensive and defensive, to Saudi Arabia and the UAE," said Page. "Renewing U.S. offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia would further undermine Biden's promise to prioritize human rights in U.S. relations with the country."
Shortly after taking office, Biden, who while campaigning for president vowed to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and other human rights crimes, imposed a temporary freeze on arms sales to the country and coalition partner UAE.
Human rights defenders were subsequently disappointed when the administration approved a $650 million air-to-air missile sale to the Royal Saudi Air Force and a $500 million support services contract for Saudi militaty helicopters.
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment to the $839 billion National Defense Authorization Act that limits U.S. weapons transfers to nations and armed forces implicated in human rights crimes.
\u201c8 items my office passed + supported today in the House NDAA:\n\n1. Authorizing MDMA & psilocybin as substances for study in therapeutic applications \ud83c\udf44(FINALLY! Took 3 yrs!)\n\n2. New limits on arms sales to Saudi Arabia + requiring actions related to the death of Jamal Khashoggi \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udde6\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1657847865
Also on Thursday, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced a resolution to end U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led war on Yemen, which Sanders called "unauthorized and unconstitutional."
"This war has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis today," Sanders added, "and it is past time to end U.S. complicity in those horrors."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
arms tradebernie sanderselizabeth warrenhuman rightshuman rights watchjamal khashoggijoe bidenmohammad bin salmanpatrick leahysaudi arabiaus senateyemen
As U.S. President Joe Biden met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Friday, a top official at Human Rights Watch implored the American leader to not lift a ban on the sale of certain weapons to the repressive monarchy as it continues waging an atrocity-laden war in Yemen.
Responding to reports that the Biden administration is considering ending its vague proscription against the transfer of "offensive" weaponry to Saudi Arabia, Michael Page, Human Rights Watch's (HRW) Middle East and North Africa deputy director, warned that such a policy reversal "could lead to fresh rights violations in Yemen."
"Since the beginning of the war in 2015, Human Rights Watch and other groups have documented how the Saudi- and [United Arab Emirates]-led coalition has used U.S. weapons in apparent unlawful airstrikes, including apparent war crimes," wrote Page. "The U.S. government's own report has detailed... oversight failures on these sales."
More than 300,000 Yemenis have died during the seven-year war, 150,000 of them as a direct result of military action, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED). A Saudi-led blockade of Yemen has exacerbated starvation and disease in the war-torn nation of 30 million inhabitants.
"Human Rights Watch has called for the suspension of all sales, both offensive and defensive, to Saudi Arabia and the UAE," said Page. "Renewing U.S. offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia would further undermine Biden's promise to prioritize human rights in U.S. relations with the country."
Shortly after taking office, Biden, who while campaigning for president vowed to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and other human rights crimes, imposed a temporary freeze on arms sales to the country and coalition partner UAE.
Human rights defenders were subsequently disappointed when the administration approved a $650 million air-to-air missile sale to the Royal Saudi Air Force and a $500 million support services contract for Saudi militaty helicopters.
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment to the $839 billion National Defense Authorization Act that limits U.S. weapons transfers to nations and armed forces implicated in human rights crimes.
\u201c8 items my office passed + supported today in the House NDAA:\n\n1. Authorizing MDMA & psilocybin as substances for study in therapeutic applications \ud83c\udf44(FINALLY! Took 3 yrs!)\n\n2. New limits on arms sales to Saudi Arabia + requiring actions related to the death of Jamal Khashoggi \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udde6\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1657847865
Also on Thursday, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced a resolution to end U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led war on Yemen, which Sanders called "unauthorized and unconstitutional."
"This war has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis today," Sanders added, "and it is past time to end U.S. complicity in those horrors."
As U.S. President Joe Biden met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Friday, a top official at Human Rights Watch implored the American leader to not lift a ban on the sale of certain weapons to the repressive monarchy as it continues waging an atrocity-laden war in Yemen.
Responding to reports that the Biden administration is considering ending its vague proscription against the transfer of "offensive" weaponry to Saudi Arabia, Michael Page, Human Rights Watch's (HRW) Middle East and North Africa deputy director, warned that such a policy reversal "could lead to fresh rights violations in Yemen."
"Since the beginning of the war in 2015, Human Rights Watch and other groups have documented how the Saudi- and [United Arab Emirates]-led coalition has used U.S. weapons in apparent unlawful airstrikes, including apparent war crimes," wrote Page. "The U.S. government's own report has detailed... oversight failures on these sales."
More than 300,000 Yemenis have died during the seven-year war, 150,000 of them as a direct result of military action, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED). A Saudi-led blockade of Yemen has exacerbated starvation and disease in the war-torn nation of 30 million inhabitants.
"Human Rights Watch has called for the suspension of all sales, both offensive and defensive, to Saudi Arabia and the UAE," said Page. "Renewing U.S. offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia would further undermine Biden's promise to prioritize human rights in U.S. relations with the country."
Shortly after taking office, Biden, who while campaigning for president vowed to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and other human rights crimes, imposed a temporary freeze on arms sales to the country and coalition partner UAE.
Human rights defenders were subsequently disappointed when the administration approved a $650 million air-to-air missile sale to the Royal Saudi Air Force and a $500 million support services contract for Saudi militaty helicopters.
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment to the $839 billion National Defense Authorization Act that limits U.S. weapons transfers to nations and armed forces implicated in human rights crimes.
\u201c8 items my office passed + supported today in the House NDAA:\n\n1. Authorizing MDMA & psilocybin as substances for study in therapeutic applications \ud83c\udf44(FINALLY! Took 3 yrs!)\n\n2. New limits on arms sales to Saudi Arabia + requiring actions related to the death of Jamal Khashoggi \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udde6\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1657847865
Also on Thursday, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced a resolution to end U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led war on Yemen, which Sanders called "unauthorized and unconstitutional."
"This war has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis today," Sanders added, "and it is past time to end U.S. complicity in those horrors."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.