- It has been confirmed that Saudi Arabia has used UK cluster bombs in its bombing of Yemen.
- UK has licensed over £3.3 billion worth of arms to Saudi forces since bombing of Yemen began last March.
- UK government currently in negotiations to sell new generation of fighter jets to Saudi military.
This evening the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, will tell parliament that Saudi Arabia has used UK cluster bombs in its ongoing bombardment of Yemen. The UK has not licensed cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia since the 1980s, but the Saudi government has confirmed that they have been used.
Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said:
The use of UK cluster bombs by Saudi Arabia is characteristic of a brutal war and a brutal regime. If Saudi forces are prepared to use cluster bombs then why is the UK continuing to arm and support the regime?
Since Saudi Arabia began bombing Yemen last March, the UK has licensed £3.3 billion worth of arms to the regime including:
- £2.2 billion worth of ML10 licences (Aircraft, helicopters, drones)
- £1.1 billion worth of ML4 licences (Grenades, bombs, missiles, countermeasures)
- £430,000 worth of ML6 licences (Armoured vehicles, tanks)
At the moment the UK government is working with BAE Systems to secure the sale of even more of the same fighter jets that are being used in Yemen. In September the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills and International Development Committees’ called for an end to arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Andrew continued:
Once a weapon has left these shores there’s little if any control over where and when it will be used and who it will be used against. The UK must act now to stop the arms sales and to end its complicity in the humanitarian catastrophe that has been unleashed on the Yemeni people.
UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia are currently subject to a judicial review which will be heard in the High Court between 07-09 February, following an application by Campaign Against Arms Trade.. The claim calls on the Secretary of State for International Trade to suspend all extant licences and stop issuing further arms export licences to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen while he holds a full review into whether the exports are compatible with UK and EU legislation.
ENDS
For further information please contact Andrew at media(at)caat·org·uk or call 020 7281 0297 or 07990 673232.
