US approves sale of advanced weapons to Saudi Arabia

According to Ashura News, citing Mehr News Agency, in the midst of the brutal US actions in Yemen that have led to the massacre of civilians, Washington is seeking to strengthen its regional partners, including Saudi Arabia.

Accordingly, the US Department of Defense, known as the Pentagon, issued a statement announcing: The US Department of State has approved the sale of the first set of Advanced Weapon Systems (APKWS) to Saudi Arabia at a cost of approximately $100 million.

This potential sale comes as the US continues its wave of attacks against civilian targets in Yemen. The attacks began last Saturday and have so far left at least 31 dead. This is the largest operation since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January this year.

The Advanced Weapon System (APKWS), whose sale to Saudi Arabia has been approved, is a laser-guided missile that can hit both air and ground targets. The weapon costs about $22,000, making it a cost-effective option for firing at small, inexpensive armed drones like those used by the Ansarullah movement.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on Thursday of a potential sale of 2,000 APKWS systems, along with related equipment and training, to Riyadh. However, the notification does not mean a deal has been signed or negotiations have been concluded, even if the State Department has approved the sale.

The United States hopes to strengthen its regional partners to contain the Ansarullah movement in Yemen, something Saudi Arabia has failed to achieve during decades of bloody war.