US Arms Saudi Arabia in Readiness for War with Houthis and Iran

The Pentagon announced that the US State Department has approved its first-ever sale of advanced precision missile systems to Saudi Arabia, valued at approximately $100 million. The agreement involves the delivery of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), which is specifically designed for precise strikes against ground and air targets.

This arms sale underscores the deepening military cooperation between Washington and Riyadh amid rising tensions in the region, where US forces are actively engaged in operations against the Houthis. BAE Systems, the prime contractor for the project, manufactures the laser-guided missiles, which are noted for their high accuracy and cost-effectiveness.

According to Pentagon officials, the missiles are intended to bolster Saudi Arabia’s defense capabilities against current and future threats while minimizing the risk of collateral damage as compared to other guided weapon systems. This announcement coincides with a series of US strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen that commenced on March 15, resulting in the deaths of over 50 people and marking the largest military operation since Donald Trump returned to the White House.

The ongoing conflict in Yemen, which began in 2014 following the Houthi capture of the capital, Sanaa, remains a critical issue in the region. Saudi Arabia, alarmed by the expanding influence of Shiite Iran along its border, has led a Western-backed coalition since 2015 to restore the internationally recognized government. Although a ceasefire agreement reached in 2022 has somewhat reduced hostilities, the war has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and left millions of Yemenis facing starvation. Meanwhile, the Houthis continue to target shipping in the Red Sea and have expressed solidarity with the Palestinian movement Hamas.