Cameron Defends Massive UK Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia, Attack on Yemen

Says Saudis Working on Behalf of 'Legitimate Government'

While a lot of nations’ governments are being brought to task by human rights groups for their support for Saudi Arabia amid the soaring civilian death toll in their bombing of Yemen, few of shown anywhere near the comfort with continuing their complicity in Saudi actions that British Premier David Cameron did today.

Cameron insisted selling arms to Saudi Arabia is important to Britain’s national security because “they’re opponents of ISIS,” and cheered their continued attacks on Yemen, saying they are working “on behalf of the legitimate government” in Yemen.

The Saudis have been attacking Yemen since last March, and have killed thousands of civilians in airstrikes targeting residential areas. The Saudis have vowed to continue their attacks until they can reinstall former President Hadi in power, and oust the Shi’ite Houthis.

A lot of nations were initially on board for reinstalling Hadi, even though his term in office was supposed to have ended back in 2014 and he continues to insist he’s the “elected” ruler of Yemen, but a lot of nations have scrambled for cover as it becomes a bigger humanitarian disaster.

Cameron’s support for the Saudis is just part of a growing problem, with the British government’s overseas allies, as recent reports show that out of Britain’s own list of 27 countries “of humanitarian concern,” Cameron has been selling arms to 24 of them.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.