UK arms export criteria say that if there is a “clear risk” that a weapon might be used in a serious violation of international humanitarian law (IHL) then an arms export should not be licensed – although in practice very few sales are halted.
The Saudi-led coalition that is fighting against Houthi rebels in Yemen is accused of engaging in indiscriminate bombing, which has contributed to 8,759 civilian deaths in the country according to the Yemen Data Project.
Sarah Waldron, of Campaign Against Arms Trade, said: “UK-made weapons have been central to a bombardment that has destroyed schools, hospitals and homes and created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.”
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UK authorised £1.4bn of arms sales to Saudi Arabia after exports resumed Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor © Provided by The Guardian Photograph: Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images
British officials authorised the export of almost £1.4bn of weapons to Saudi Arabia in the quarter after the UK resumed sales of weapons that could be used in the war in Yemen.
Campaigners accused ministers of “putting profit before Yemeni lives” and said the figures highlighted the discrepancy between the UK and the US, which under President Joe Biden halted similar arms sales to Riyadh last week.
Britain had resumed unrestricted arms sales early in July, after concluding there were only “isolated incidents” of civilian casualties from bombing raids conducted by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels.