US Rep. Ilhan Omar moves to block $650 million Saudi arms sale
If passed by the Senate, the joint resolution would block the sale of 280 air-to-air missiles to Riyadh.
US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Friday introduced a joint resolution to block a $650 million sale of air-to-air missiles proposed by the Biden administration for Saudi Arabia.
The sale was notified to Congress last week and billed by the State Department as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to continue providing defensive aid to Saudi Arabia amid a pledge to cut off support for the kingdom’s war in Yemen.
The administration said last week the proposed sale of 280 Raytheon-made AIM-120C missiles would help the Royal Saudi Air Force continue to defend the Gulf country against drone attacks launched by Yemen’s Houhti rebels.
The proposed sale is “fully consistent with the administration’s pledge to lead with diplomacy to end the conflict in Yemen while also ensuring Saudi Arabia has the means to defend itself from Iranian-backed Houthi air attacks,” a State Department spokesperson said last week.
