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Some lawmakers are likely to oppose the move, but officials said Biden’s leadership has taken note of the de facto ceasefire between the kingdom and the Houthi defense forces in Yemen.
By Kate Kelly, Edward Wong and Vivian Nereim
Kate Kelly and Edward Wong reported from Washington, D. C. , and Vivian Nereim from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Biden administration will ease restrictions on some arms sales to Saudi Arabia, U. S. officials said Thursday, crediting the kingdom’s peace talks with a defense force in Yemen for accelerating the easing of restrictions.
President Biden imposed the ban two years ago amid considerations that U. S. weapons were being used against civilians in Yemen, where thousands of others have been killed by airstrikes, fighting, disease and starvation as a Saudi-led military coalition waged war against Iran. supported by a defense force called the Houthis.
The expected easing of the limits, which blocked major offensive arms sales to Saudi Arabia, comes as the kingdom tries to finalize a U. S. -backed peace deal with the Houthis.
A White House National Security Council declined to comment.
U. S. officials did not say when the easing of the sales ban might take place. And such a resolution could simply be reversed if Biden decides that it is not in the U. S. interest to allow offensive weapons to reach Saudi Arabia, which is by far the largest customer for U. S. weapons.
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