Other prominent Democrats also oppose further arming the country, arguing that “the only way to truly protect people in the region is to bring the war in Yemen to an end.”
By Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said Wednesday that she is working on legislation to stop a $650 million missile sale to Saudi Arabia that the U.S. State Department announced last week.
Criticism of the weapons sale has mounted since the State Department notified Congress that it approved the deal, with anti-war activists and other progressives accusing the Biden administration of breaking promises and exacerbating the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
Echoing those critiques Wednesday, Omar (D-Minn.) tweeted that “selling weapons to Saudi Arabia while they continue to slaughter Yemenis is unacceptable. If we truly believe in putting human rights at the center of our foreign policy we would not be arming human rights abusers.”
Agree. Selling weapons to Saudi Arabia while they continue to slaughter Yemenis is unacceptable. If we truly believe in putting human rights at the center of our foreign policy we would not be arming human rights abusers. Working on legislation to stop this sale this week. https://t.co/b0b33Eyasz
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 10, 2021
Omar’s tweet about legislation to prevent the Raytheon missiles and launchers from reaching Saudi Arabia came as other prominent House Democrats also blasted the sale—which doesn’t require congressional approval but can be blocked by federal lawmakers.
Reps. Colin Allred (D-Texas), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Wednesday issued a joint statement asserting that “the only way to truly protect people in the region is to bring the war in Yemen to an end.”

The statement highlighted that while the war in Yemen “has now claimed thousands of lives and remains a devastating humanitarian disaster,” the Biden administration has taken supposed steps to promote peace in the region.
Here at @armscontrolnow, we agree with @RepMalinowski and Co. about this one. https://t.co/lr7r3UTUtk
— Daryl G Kimball (@DarylGKimball) November 10, 2021
A week after taking office in January, President Joe Biden imposed a temporary freeze on arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In early February, Biden announced his administration would cut off U.S. support for “offensive operations” in the Saudi-led war on Yemen and appoint a diplomatic envoy.
The Democrats said Wednesday that “while the administration has suspended offensive weapons sales, it continues to provide logistical support and spare parts that permit an escalation of offensive Saudi Air Force operations in Yemen. That needs to stop.”
“We urge the administration to review the efficacy of its offensive weapons freeze and consider additional steps to bring about a cessation of airstrikes against belligerents in Yemen’s civil war,” the lawmakers added, while also vowing that they will strengthen provisions in the next annual National Defense Authorization Act “intended to help bring about an end to this conflict.”
Recent Posts
Zohran Mamdani Is Showing Democrats How To Shape Voter Opinion
June 23, 2025
Take Action Now Polls recorded shifts in NYC residents’ priorities following mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s campaigning on housing.By Susan…
Bombing Iran Is Part Of The USA’s Repetition Compulsion For War War War
June 22, 2025
Take Action Now More than ever, the United States and Israel are overt partners in what the Nuremberg Tribunal in 1946 called “the supreme…
62 percent Of Democrats Agree Party Leadership Should Be Replaced: Survey
June 20, 2025
Take Action Now The party has found it difficult to build a cohesive message as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has been embroiled in…
Democratic Leadership Is Complacent In The Face Of Iran War Threat
June 20, 2025
Take Action Now “It’s embarrassing that some problematic far-right figures are speaking out more forcefully against direct military…