27 july 2019
A child suffering from malnutrition caused by the Saudi aggression lies on a bed at a treatment center in al-Sabeen Maternal Hospital in the Yemeni capital Sana'a on June 22, 2019
The United Nations has for the third year put Saudi Arabia and its allies in their military campaign against Yemen on the world body's blacklist of child killers.
According to a report by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in 2018, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen killed or injured 729 children, nearly half the total child casualties of the year.
The UN chief's report, which was presented to the Security Council on Friday, also states that Palestinian casualties caused by the Israeli regime, mainly its military, hit a four-year high in 2018.
The report shows that 59 Palestinian children were killed - 56 by Israeli forces - and another 2,756 were injured last year.
Guterres urged "Israel to immediately put in place preventive and protective measures to end the excessive use of force".
"I condemn the increasing number of child casualties, which are often a result of attacks in densely populated areas and against civilian objects, including schools and hospitals," Guterres said in the report, produced by UN Children and Armed Conflict envoy Virginia Gamba and issued in Guterres' name.
The report does not subject those listed to action; however, it shames parties to conflicts in the hope of pushing them to stop killing children.
Diplomats say Saudi Arabia and Israel both have exerted pressure in recent years in a bid to stay off the list, but no to avail.
In reaction to the Friday report, Saudi Ambassador to the UN Abdadllah Al-Mouallimi claimed that "every child's life is precious" to Riyadh, and questioned the sourcing and accuracy of the report, describing the numbers as "exaggerated."
His claims come as over 80,000 Yemeni children under five years have died as a result of severe malnutrition caused by the Saudi-led coalition's aggression against the people of Yemen, Guterres cited a report as saying earlier this year.
The war that began in March 2015 has so far killed thousands of Yemeni women and children and destroyed Yemen’s infrastructure.
The Yemeni Health Ministry announced in a report on Friday that one Yemeni child is dying of malnutrition every 10 minutes. The report, cited by al-Mayadeen TV, said malnutrition has affected 2.3 million children in Yemen during the past five years.
It also pointed to the outbreak of cholera as a result of the Saudi-led coalition's aggression, saying that children account for 40 percent of the 3,700 people diagnosed with the disease in the war-torn country.
The United Nations has for the third year put Saudi Arabia and its allies in their military campaign against Yemen on the world body's blacklist of child killers.
According to a report by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in 2018, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen killed or injured 729 children, nearly half the total child casualties of the year.
The UN chief's report, which was presented to the Security Council on Friday, also states that Palestinian casualties caused by the Israeli regime, mainly its military, hit a four-year high in 2018.
The report shows that 59 Palestinian children were killed - 56 by Israeli forces - and another 2,756 were injured last year.
Guterres urged "Israel to immediately put in place preventive and protective measures to end the excessive use of force".
"I condemn the increasing number of child casualties, which are often a result of attacks in densely populated areas and against civilian objects, including schools and hospitals," Guterres said in the report, produced by UN Children and Armed Conflict envoy Virginia Gamba and issued in Guterres' name.
The report does not subject those listed to action; however, it shames parties to conflicts in the hope of pushing them to stop killing children.
Diplomats say Saudi Arabia and Israel both have exerted pressure in recent years in a bid to stay off the list, but no to avail.
In reaction to the Friday report, Saudi Ambassador to the UN Abdadllah Al-Mouallimi claimed that "every child's life is precious" to Riyadh, and questioned the sourcing and accuracy of the report, describing the numbers as "exaggerated."
His claims come as over 80,000 Yemeni children under five years have died as a result of severe malnutrition caused by the Saudi-led coalition's aggression against the people of Yemen, Guterres cited a report as saying earlier this year.
The war that began in March 2015 has so far killed thousands of Yemeni women and children and destroyed Yemen’s infrastructure.
The Yemeni Health Ministry announced in a report on Friday that one Yemeni child is dying of malnutrition every 10 minutes. The report, cited by al-Mayadeen TV, said malnutrition has affected 2.3 million children in Yemen during the past five years.
It also pointed to the outbreak of cholera as a result of the Saudi-led coalition's aggression, saying that children account for 40 percent of the 3,700 people diagnosed with the disease in the war-torn country.
26 july 2019
The first group of Palestinian pilgrims from the Gaza Strip left the Cairo International Airport today, en route to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage of Hajj.
Diab al-Louh, Palestine’s ambassador to Egypt, said that these 795 pilgrims, who left Gaza yesterday, are the first in nine groups comprising 2,900 pilgrims, in total, heading to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
He further stated, according to WAFA, that 11 international flights from Cairo, during the coming four days, are allocated for the next batches of Gaza pilgrims leaving for Saudi Arabia.
Video update 29 july: We spent 14 hours on the Saudi border without moving the buses
Diab al-Louh, Palestine’s ambassador to Egypt, said that these 795 pilgrims, who left Gaza yesterday, are the first in nine groups comprising 2,900 pilgrims, in total, heading to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
He further stated, according to WAFA, that 11 international flights from Cairo, during the coming four days, are allocated for the next batches of Gaza pilgrims leaving for Saudi Arabia.
Video update 29 july: We spent 14 hours on the Saudi border without moving the buses
Yemen’s Ansarullah movement says the US is not just arming the Saudi-led coalition, but is actively participating in its brutal war against the innocent Yemenis.
“The gravity of the American role doesn’t come from the arms sales, but the participation in the aggression against Yemen, and also in trying to legitimize that aggression,” said Mohammed al-Bukhtaiti, a senior member of the the Political Bureau of the Ansarullah movement.
His comments come as American troops are coming back 16 years after they left Saudi Arabia, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud announced last week. According to media reports hundreds of American troops are deploying to Prince Sultan Air Base outside Riyadh.
Back on Wednesday, Ansarullah spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam told Al-Masirah TV that the deployment of US troops is aimed at providing security support and boosting the morale of Saudi Arabia against the ballistic missiles and drone attacks of Yemen.
In their latest retaliatory attack on Saudi targets, the Yemeni army’s UAVs once again hit a Saudi airport in Asir province on Thursday night. The army said the pinpoint attack on the airport and nearby military sites in the city of Abha was conducted by Qasef K-2 drones.
The Saudi-led coalition claimed the drone was intercepted and that no airports or military sites had been hit.
Yemeni forces have stepped up their retaliatory strikes against Saudi Arabia to force the regime to stop its military campaign against the Yemeni people.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed three congressional resolutions barring billions of dollars in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have been committing war crimes in Yemen for over four years.
Referring to the decision, Ansarullah’s Bukhaiti said, “If the US Congress manages to block the US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, it will be the end for the economic benefits for America, and this may lead to a change in the US policy regarding its participation in the aggression, and its efforts to legitimize it.”
In veto messages to Congress released by the White House on Wednesday, Trump argued that the bills would “weaken America’s global competitiveness and damage the important relationships we share with our allies and partners.”
Thousands of Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed by the Saudi aggression and the ensuing famine since 2015.
“The Yemeni people are subjected to an unjust and brutal aggression, and that has resulted in the deaths of thousands due to famine. And the US has to reconsider because it’s a partner in this humanitarian crisis,” Bukhaiti said.
“The gravity of the American role doesn’t come from the arms sales, but the participation in the aggression against Yemen, and also in trying to legitimize that aggression,” said Mohammed al-Bukhtaiti, a senior member of the the Political Bureau of the Ansarullah movement.
His comments come as American troops are coming back 16 years after they left Saudi Arabia, King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud announced last week. According to media reports hundreds of American troops are deploying to Prince Sultan Air Base outside Riyadh.
Back on Wednesday, Ansarullah spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam told Al-Masirah TV that the deployment of US troops is aimed at providing security support and boosting the morale of Saudi Arabia against the ballistic missiles and drone attacks of Yemen.
In their latest retaliatory attack on Saudi targets, the Yemeni army’s UAVs once again hit a Saudi airport in Asir province on Thursday night. The army said the pinpoint attack on the airport and nearby military sites in the city of Abha was conducted by Qasef K-2 drones.
The Saudi-led coalition claimed the drone was intercepted and that no airports or military sites had been hit.
Yemeni forces have stepped up their retaliatory strikes against Saudi Arabia to force the regime to stop its military campaign against the Yemeni people.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed three congressional resolutions barring billions of dollars in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have been committing war crimes in Yemen for over four years.
Referring to the decision, Ansarullah’s Bukhaiti said, “If the US Congress manages to block the US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, it will be the end for the economic benefits for America, and this may lead to a change in the US policy regarding its participation in the aggression, and its efforts to legitimize it.”
In veto messages to Congress released by the White House on Wednesday, Trump argued that the bills would “weaken America’s global competitiveness and damage the important relationships we share with our allies and partners.”
Thousands of Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed by the Saudi aggression and the ensuing famine since 2015.
“The Yemeni people are subjected to an unjust and brutal aggression, and that has resulted in the deaths of thousands due to famine. And the US has to reconsider because it’s a partner in this humanitarian crisis,” Bukhaiti said.
25 july 2019
To become law, the legislation must still pass the whole Senate, as well as the US House of Representatives and either be signed by Trump or gather the two-thirds majorities in both chambers of Congress to override a veto.
Historically, Congress has overridden fewer than ten percent of all presidential vetoes.
The measure was co-sponsored by Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Todd Young.
The committee’s chairman, Republican Senator Jim Risch, opposed the bill, saying he wanted legislation to hold Riyadh accountable but argued that there was no point in passing a bill that Trump would veto.
On Wednesday, Trump vetoed three congressional resolutions barring billions of dollars in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have been committing war crimes in Yemen for over four years.
In a statement released by the White House, Trump argued that the bills would “weaken America’s global competitiveness and damage the important relationships we share with our allies and partners.”
Many members of Congress have sought to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its human rights abuses, including last year’s murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, Turkey, as well as the Saudi-led war in Yemen, which has led to a humanitarian catastrophe.
Leading a coalition of its allies, Saudi Arabia invaded Yemen in March 2015 in an attempt to reinstall the former regime, which had been friendly to Riyadh, but whose officials fled the country.
The aggression is estimated to have left 56,000 Yemenis dead and has taken a heavy toll on the country’s infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories.
The UN has said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. According to the world body, Yemen is suffering from the most severe famine in more than 100 years.
Historically, Congress has overridden fewer than ten percent of all presidential vetoes.
The measure was co-sponsored by Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Todd Young.
The committee’s chairman, Republican Senator Jim Risch, opposed the bill, saying he wanted legislation to hold Riyadh accountable but argued that there was no point in passing a bill that Trump would veto.
On Wednesday, Trump vetoed three congressional resolutions barring billions of dollars in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have been committing war crimes in Yemen for over four years.
In a statement released by the White House, Trump argued that the bills would “weaken America’s global competitiveness and damage the important relationships we share with our allies and partners.”
Many members of Congress have sought to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its human rights abuses, including last year’s murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, Turkey, as well as the Saudi-led war in Yemen, which has led to a humanitarian catastrophe.
Leading a coalition of its allies, Saudi Arabia invaded Yemen in March 2015 in an attempt to reinstall the former regime, which had been friendly to Riyadh, but whose officials fled the country.
The aggression is estimated to have left 56,000 Yemenis dead and has taken a heavy toll on the country’s infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories.
The UN has said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. According to the world body, Yemen is suffering from the most severe famine in more than 100 years.
US President Donald Trump has vetoed three congressional resolutions barring billions of dollars in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have been committing war crimes in Yemen for over four years.
In veto messages to Congress released by the White House on Wednesday, Trump argued that the bills would “weaken America’s global competitiveness and damage the important relationships we share with our allies and partners.”
Back in May, the Trump administration invoked an emergency provision of the law governing arms sales to push for the sale of $8.1 billion worth of munitions in 22 pending transfers to Saudi Arabia and the UAE and Jordan without the typical 30-day congressional review period.
It claimed that the export was crucial to protect the region against what it called “the malign influence” of Iran.
However, the move infuriated American lawmakers, who slammed the Trump administration for attempting to bypass Congress.
Many members of Congress have grown alarmed by the brutal Saudi-led military aggression on Yemen, which has killed thousands of civilians since early 2015 and created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in the impoverished country.
They have also censured the Riyadh-sponsored killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, last October, as well as Trump’s inaction on the crime.
The three resolutions had been approved by the House of Representatives last week. They had previously passed the Senate in what was viewed as a bipartisan pushback to Trump’s foreign policy.
In his veto messages, Trump claimed that the resolutions were an “ill-conceived and time-consuming” way to address concerns about the war on Yemen.
Representative Eliot Engel, a Democrat from New York who is the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, denounced Trump’s decision to veto the bills.
“The President’s veto sends a grim message that America’s foreign policy is no longer rooted in our core values — namely a respect for human rights — and that he views Congress not as a coequal branch of government, but an irritant to be avoided or ignored,” he said.
“Worse still, this veto is going to cost innocent lives. These weapons are going to continue fueling a reckless and brutal campaign of violence and exacerbating the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe," he added.
Saudi Arabia is the United States’ largest arms client, with over $129 billion in approved purchases.
UK gives green light to $800m in Saudi arms sales
In a separate development, a new analysis from the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) revealed that the UK, which is — along the US — among the Riyadh regime’s arms suppliers had approved over $800 million worth of arms license exports to Saudi Arabia between in October 2018 and March 2019.
The sales came despite a ruling by the Court of Appeal in June that states British arms sales to the Riyadh regime are unlawful.
Andrew Smith, of the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), said, “At the same time as the Saudi regime was covering up his (Khashoggi’s) murder ministers were approving hundreds of millions of pounds worth of arms.”
“UK-made weapons have played a devastating role in the bombing of Yemen. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and vital infrastructure has been destroyed. The destruction wouldn’t have been possible without the complicity and support of arms dealing governments like the UK,” he added.
In veto messages to Congress released by the White House on Wednesday, Trump argued that the bills would “weaken America’s global competitiveness and damage the important relationships we share with our allies and partners.”
Back in May, the Trump administration invoked an emergency provision of the law governing arms sales to push for the sale of $8.1 billion worth of munitions in 22 pending transfers to Saudi Arabia and the UAE and Jordan without the typical 30-day congressional review period.
It claimed that the export was crucial to protect the region against what it called “the malign influence” of Iran.
However, the move infuriated American lawmakers, who slammed the Trump administration for attempting to bypass Congress.
Many members of Congress have grown alarmed by the brutal Saudi-led military aggression on Yemen, which has killed thousands of civilians since early 2015 and created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in the impoverished country.
They have also censured the Riyadh-sponsored killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, last October, as well as Trump’s inaction on the crime.
The three resolutions had been approved by the House of Representatives last week. They had previously passed the Senate in what was viewed as a bipartisan pushback to Trump’s foreign policy.
In his veto messages, Trump claimed that the resolutions were an “ill-conceived and time-consuming” way to address concerns about the war on Yemen.
Representative Eliot Engel, a Democrat from New York who is the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, denounced Trump’s decision to veto the bills.
“The President’s veto sends a grim message that America’s foreign policy is no longer rooted in our core values — namely a respect for human rights — and that he views Congress not as a coequal branch of government, but an irritant to be avoided or ignored,” he said.
“Worse still, this veto is going to cost innocent lives. These weapons are going to continue fueling a reckless and brutal campaign of violence and exacerbating the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe," he added.
Saudi Arabia is the United States’ largest arms client, with over $129 billion in approved purchases.
UK gives green light to $800m in Saudi arms sales
In a separate development, a new analysis from the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) revealed that the UK, which is — along the US — among the Riyadh regime’s arms suppliers had approved over $800 million worth of arms license exports to Saudi Arabia between in October 2018 and March 2019.
The sales came despite a ruling by the Court of Appeal in June that states British arms sales to the Riyadh regime are unlawful.
Andrew Smith, of the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), said, “At the same time as the Saudi regime was covering up his (Khashoggi’s) murder ministers were approving hundreds of millions of pounds worth of arms.”
“UK-made weapons have played a devastating role in the bombing of Yemen. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and vital infrastructure has been destroyed. The destruction wouldn’t have been possible without the complicity and support of arms dealing governments like the UK,” he added.
22 july 2019
A delegation of Gulf and Arab journalists and social media activists will flock to Israel in the coming days in response to an invitation from the foreign ministry.
The delegation includes reporters from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Egypt and it will cross into Israel via the Allenby Bridge for a series of meetings and events with Israeli officials and lawmakers.
"The delegation will visit Yad Vashem, the Knesset, and Jerusalem's holy sites," a statement from the Israeli foreign ministry read.
"The delegation will meet with members of the Knesset, officials from the foreign ministry and academics," the statement continues, and will "tour northern Israel, Haifa, Nazareth and Tel Aviv."
The statement adds that the aim of the invitation is to "expose the journalists, some of whom come from countries that Israel has no relations with, to Israeli positions on political and geographical issues, and give them a direct view of Israeli society in all its forms."
The delegation’s visit will be just weeks after Israeli journalists from six Hebrew media outlets were invited to Bahrain to cover the US-sponsored economic workshop.
The invitation marks the latest development in growing ties between Israel and the Arab world, especially the Gulf countries.
Last Thursday in Washington, Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz met publicly with his Bahraini counterpart Khaled Al-Khalifa.
The delegation includes reporters from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Egypt and it will cross into Israel via the Allenby Bridge for a series of meetings and events with Israeli officials and lawmakers.
"The delegation will visit Yad Vashem, the Knesset, and Jerusalem's holy sites," a statement from the Israeli foreign ministry read.
"The delegation will meet with members of the Knesset, officials from the foreign ministry and academics," the statement continues, and will "tour northern Israel, Haifa, Nazareth and Tel Aviv."
The statement adds that the aim of the invitation is to "expose the journalists, some of whom come from countries that Israel has no relations with, to Israeli positions on political and geographical issues, and give them a direct view of Israeli society in all its forms."
The delegation’s visit will be just weeks after Israeli journalists from six Hebrew media outlets were invited to Bahrain to cover the US-sponsored economic workshop.
The invitation marks the latest development in growing ties between Israel and the Arab world, especially the Gulf countries.
Last Thursday in Washington, Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz met publicly with his Bahraini counterpart Khaled Al-Khalifa.
20 july 2019
Saudi King Salman has approved hosting of hundreds of US troops in the kingdom amid rising tensions in the region between the United States and Iran.
According to the kingdom’s defense ministry, King Salman has given his approval “based on mutual cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United States of America” and Washington’s “desire to enhance everything that could preserve the security of the region and its stability.”
CNN reported on Thursday that around 500 troops were expected to be dispatched to the Prince Sultan Air Base, located in a desert area east of the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Two US military officials told CNN that a small number of troops and support personnel are already in the air base, with initial preparations being made for a US-made Patriot missile system as well as runway and airfield improvements.
Washington is expected to fly stealth, fifth-generation F-22 jets and other fighters from the air base, the unnamed US officials said.
The kingdom has not hosted US forces since 2003 when they pulled out following the end of the war with Iraq. The US troops were present in Saudi Arabia for 12 years, starting with Operation Desert Storm in 1991, when former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.
At the peak of the Iraq war, 200 US aircraft were stationed at the Prince Sultan air base, which is situated around 80 kilometers south of Riyadh. As many as 2,700 missions a day were also handled by the headquarters in Saudi Arabia.
Since 2015, the US has been supporting a a Saudi-led war against Yemen that seeks to reinstall the impoverished country’s former Riyadh-backed officials. The American patronage has featured aerial refueling, which the US only stopped last year after the Saudi-led coalition grew independent of it, as well as logistical and commando support.
Tens of thousands of Yemenis have lost their lives since the onset of the war, and the country has been pushed close to the edge of outright famine.
A year after the war was launched, Trump made his maiden visit to Saudi Arabia, announcing more than $100 billion in arms sales to the kingdom.
$1.48bn contract for THAAD missile system
Meanwhile, a $1.48 billion contract to build the THAAD missile system for Saudi Arabia has been awarded to Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon said on Friday.
In November 2018, Saudi and American officials signed letters of offer and acceptance formalizing terms for Saudi Arabia’s purchase of 44 THAAD launchers, missiles and related equipment.
In April, a $2.4 billion contract for THAAD interceptor missiles was awarded to Lockheed. some of those missiles are set to be delivered to the kingdom, which is the United States’ largest arms client, with over $129 billion in approved purchases.
The arms exports and deployment of troops come against the backdrop of rising tensions between Iran and the US in the Persian Gulf.
According to the kingdom’s defense ministry, King Salman has given his approval “based on mutual cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United States of America” and Washington’s “desire to enhance everything that could preserve the security of the region and its stability.”
CNN reported on Thursday that around 500 troops were expected to be dispatched to the Prince Sultan Air Base, located in a desert area east of the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Two US military officials told CNN that a small number of troops and support personnel are already in the air base, with initial preparations being made for a US-made Patriot missile system as well as runway and airfield improvements.
Washington is expected to fly stealth, fifth-generation F-22 jets and other fighters from the air base, the unnamed US officials said.
The kingdom has not hosted US forces since 2003 when they pulled out following the end of the war with Iraq. The US troops were present in Saudi Arabia for 12 years, starting with Operation Desert Storm in 1991, when former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.
At the peak of the Iraq war, 200 US aircraft were stationed at the Prince Sultan air base, which is situated around 80 kilometers south of Riyadh. As many as 2,700 missions a day were also handled by the headquarters in Saudi Arabia.
Since 2015, the US has been supporting a a Saudi-led war against Yemen that seeks to reinstall the impoverished country’s former Riyadh-backed officials. The American patronage has featured aerial refueling, which the US only stopped last year after the Saudi-led coalition grew independent of it, as well as logistical and commando support.
Tens of thousands of Yemenis have lost their lives since the onset of the war, and the country has been pushed close to the edge of outright famine.
A year after the war was launched, Trump made his maiden visit to Saudi Arabia, announcing more than $100 billion in arms sales to the kingdom.
$1.48bn contract for THAAD missile system
Meanwhile, a $1.48 billion contract to build the THAAD missile system for Saudi Arabia has been awarded to Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon said on Friday.
In November 2018, Saudi and American officials signed letters of offer and acceptance formalizing terms for Saudi Arabia’s purchase of 44 THAAD launchers, missiles and related equipment.
In April, a $2.4 billion contract for THAAD interceptor missiles was awarded to Lockheed. some of those missiles are set to be delivered to the kingdom, which is the United States’ largest arms client, with over $129 billion in approved purchases.
The arms exports and deployment of troops come against the backdrop of rising tensions between Iran and the US in the Persian Gulf.