In a significant shift of policy, the Biden administration has made the decision to end the ban on the sale of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The move marks a reversal of a three-year-old policy aimed at pressuring the kingdom to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, where a Saudi-led military alliance has been engaged in a bloody war against the Houthi rebels since 2015.

Congress was briefed on this decision earlier in the week, as the administration moves forward with its plan to resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia. It is expected that the sales could begin as early as next week, as the US government reportedly proceeds with notifications about a potential sale. A senior Biden administration official emphasized that the Saudi Arabian government had fulfilled its obligations under the agreement, thereby paving the way for the lifting of the ban.

The decision to relent on the ban comes after a period of relative calm in the region. Since March 2022, when the Saudis and Houthi rebels entered into a UN-led truce, there have been no reported Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, and incidents of cross-border fire originating from Yemen have significantly decreased, according to the administration official. This development has played a role in the administration's decision to reconsider the ban.

Previously, President Biden had taken a strong stance against weapons sales to Saudi Arabia in 2021, citing concerns over the kingdom's military campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen. The conflict has resulted in substantial civilian casualties, with hundreds of thousands of lives lost, and large portions of Yemen's population remaining dependent on humanitarian aid for survival.

The war in Yemen is widely viewed as a proxy battle between regional powerhouses Iran and Saudi Arabia. It was in late 2014 that the Houthi rebels managed to oust a Saudi-backed government from Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, triggering the ongoing conflict. The ensuing military alliance led by Saudi Arabia has been attempting to regain control and eliminate the Houthi threat. However, the protracted conflict has taken an immense toll on the Yemeni people, with devastating humanitarian consequences.

The lifting of the ban on offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia is a contentious move that raises concerns over the potential escalation of the conflict in Yemen. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the fragile peace process in the region, as well as the lives of those caught in the crossfire of this protracted and devastating war.