The Biden administration has decided to lift the ban on the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, according to a report by Reuters on August 9, 2024. This decision marks a reversal of a three-year-old policy aimed at pressuring the Kingdom to end its involvement in the Yemeni civil war.

Three sources, including a congressional aide, told Reuters that the administration informed lawmakers of the decision this week. The sales could resume as early as next week, according to one of the sources.

A senior Biden administration official attributed the resumption of offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia's fulfillment of its side of an agreement. "We are prepared to fulfill our side," the official stated.

The official noted that weapons sales will now be subject to the usual process of congressional notification and consultation. He also emphasized that there have been no Saudi airstrikes in Yemen since March 2022, when Saudi Arabia and the Houthis implemented a UN-brokered ceasefire.

In June, Bloomberg reported that Senator Ben Cardin, a prominent Democrat and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was reviewing the parameters for US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, suggesting a rapprochement in relations. The Biden administration is simultaneously seeking a security agreement with Saudi Arabia and solutions to mitigate the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Senator Cardin confirmed that he instructed his staff to review all comments on arms sales to the Saudis. He added that the president's team has submitted requests for review in some cases, while his team is independently working on them in others.

In 2021, Biden adopted a stricter stance on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, citing the Saudi-led coalition's campaign against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. This campaign had been accused of causing significant civilian casualties.

Since then, Congress has blocked several arms deals with Saudi Arabia. While Biden had not yet lifted the ban on offensive weapons sales, this latest development signals a shift in the administration's approach.