The United Arab Emirates has responded to criticism from US senators about the country's planned purchase of US fighter jets, drones and other advanced military hardware.

On Nov. 10, the US State Department notified Congress of the US government's intent to sell dozens of the F-35 fighter jets, 18 armed MQ-9B drones and precision munitions to the UAE. The F-35 is a sophisticated fighter plane that only Israel has in the Middle East. Under US law, Congress can modify or block US weapons sales to foreign countries. Talk of the sale first began over the summer, when the UAE agreed to normalize ties with Israel.

The $23 billion sale is controversial in part because of the UAE’s involvement in the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and several other Middle Eastern states began fighting alongside the Yemeni government against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in 2015. The coalition has conducted extensive air strikes in Yemen to this end and has been widely accused of killing civilians.

The UAE began withdrawing military forces from Yemen in 2019 and finished the process in February, though it continues to provide support to its ally, the Southern Transitional Council.