WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The president’s certification would consider how Saudi Arabia has used US weapons in attacks against civilians, how it affects US credibility in the region and how defense sales to the kingdom enhance US national security objectives.
On Monday, the rights watchdog Amnesty International said it had documented evidence that US, UK and Brazilian-made cluster bombs had killed Yemeni civilians, including children, during the year-long Saudi offensive in that country.
"We need to put real conditions on our military aid to the Saudis to ensure their proxy wars with Iran do not distract them from the fight against violent extremist groups like ISIS [Daesh]," Murphy stated on Thursday.
The senators introduced an amendment to the NDAA that would require the US president to attest that Saudi Arabia is demonstrating a commitment to counterterrorism and protecting civilians before the US Congress can approve weapons sales or transfers.
While Saudi Arabia is an important US ally, the senators explained, its destabilizing actions in Yemen have created a humanitarian crisis in that country.
