US lifts ban on Saudi Arabia

The United States announced it will resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia after a three-year suspension linked to human rights abuses in Yemen. This decision comes as the U.S. seeks Saudi support to help resolve the ongoing conflict in Gaza and counter Iranian threats. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel emphasized that the Saudis have upheld their commitments since a UN-brokered truce in Yemen, which has led to a cessation of Saudi airstrikes and cross-border hostilities. The shift in U.S. policy marks a departure from President Biden's initial emphasis on human rights, highlighting changing geopolitical dynamics amidst regional tensions. Meanwhile, Israel's military actions in Lebanon and Gaza continue to exacerbate fears of a broader Middle Eastern conflict, as evidenced by the recent assassination of a Hamas official in Lebanon.