Local Editor
Washington has approved the sale of 133 tanks and 20 recovery vehicles to Saudi Arabia, citing the kingdom’s role as a "leading contributor of political stability and economic progress" in the Middle East, even as Saudi aircraft resumed bombing Yemen.
The US State Department gave its green light for the sale, estimated at $1.15 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in its notice to Congress on Tuesday. General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), of Sterling Heights, Michigan, was named as the primary contractor.
"This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic regional partner which has been and continues to be a leading contributor of political stability and economic progress in the Middle East."
Saudi Arabia had requested 133 M1A1/A2 "tank structures" for upgrading M1A2S Abrams tanks currently in Saudi service, as well as 20 "battle damage replacements for their existing fleet," the DSCA notice said.
The kingdom also wants 20 M88A1/A2 conversion kits for Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift Evacuation System (HERCULES) Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV), used to extract battle-damaged tanks. The package would include the tanks and engineering vehicles, armaments, ammunition, training and support.
"This sale will increase the Royal Saudi Land Force’s (RSLF) interoperability with US forces and conveys US commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security and armed forces modernization," DSCA said in the notice.
Congress has 30 days to block the sale, although that does not happen often.
The announcement comes just days after Saudi Arabia resumed airstrikes in Yemen after a five-month truce. Saudi warplanes struck the Yemeni capital of Sana’a on Tuesday, with reports of civilian casualties. Air strikes were also reported in the northern city of Saada, the western cities of Jouf and Taiz, and the Red Sea ports of Makha and Houdeida.
A Saudi-led coalition of Gulf Arab states intervened in the Yemeni war in April 2015, backing the ousted President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi against the Houthi Ansarullah revolutionaries.
The strikes were meant to undermine the Houthi Ansarullah movement and restore power to fugitive former president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
About 10,000 people have been killed and over 16,000 injured since Riyadh launched the airstrikes. The Saudi aggression has also taken a heavy toll on Yemen’s facilities and infrastructure.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
