iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The United States has decided not to move forward with the sale of some munitions that would support Saudi Arabia’s campaign in Yemen over concerns about civilians casualties, a senior Obama administration official confirmed to ABC News.
“We continue to have concerns about the conflict in Yemen and how it has been waged, most especially the air campaign,” the official said. “Consequently, we have decided to not move forward with final approval on some sales of munitions. This reflects our continued, strong concerns with the flaws in the Coalition’s targeting practices and overall prosecution of the air campaign in Yemen. We are also exploring how to refocus training for the Saudi Air Force to address these kinds of issues.”
Saudi Arabia led a coalition of Middle Eastern countries, which intervened in Yemen’s civil war in March of 2015, to help government forces defeat militant Houthi rebels aligned with Iran. Since then, the Saudi military has conducted thousand of air strikes. Human rights organizations say they are responsible for scores of civilians deaths.
On October 8th, the Saudi military launched an airstrike on a crowded funeral ceremony in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, killing 100 and injuring more than 500, according to the civilian advocacy group Human Rights Watch. That organization also called the attack an “apparent war crime.”
The Saudis later said it was a mistake.
The State Department, which is responsible for conducting military sales to foreign entities, has repeatedly expressed concerns about the Saudi military campaign and the need to address “flaws in its targeting cycle.” On Tuesday, however, State Department spokesman John Kirby would not confirm that sales had been halted, citing an ongoing review of foreign military sales initiated after the October attack.
Nevertheless the United States and other European nations continue to provide military assistance to the Saudis. Great Britain still provides the Saudis with cluster munitions — an air dropped bomb that releases smaller bombs that have devastating consequences on civilians populations — while the Americans provide the military with training and other weapons sales including Chinook helicopters and related equipment.
The Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington D.C. did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
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