UK sold £1bn of bombs to Saudi Arabia in three months last year

Newly published Department for Business, Innovation and Skills figures show that in the third quarter of last year the UK granted over £1bn of licences for the export of bombs to Saudi Arabia, despite overwhelming evidence of human rights violations committed by the Saudi-led coaltion in its aerial bombing campaign in Yemen. The figures were published in HMG’s report into Strategic Export Controls for 1 July to September 2015.

Roy Isbister, Saferworld arms control expert, "It is inexplicable that the day after the Prime Minister says there is no military solution to the situation in Yemen, the Government releases these truly stunning figures.  A billion pounds worth of bombs to the Saudi air force—the same air force that the UN says is responsible for multiple attacks on schools, hospital, markets and civilian infrastructure—runs directly counter to the UK’s obligations under national, EU and international law."

“Clearly, all sides to the conflict in Yemen are guilty of abuses. However, the UK Government’s incredible level of material support directly to Saudi Arabia patently undermines its claims to operate one of the most rigorous arms export control regimes in the world.”

Read The Independent article British arms companies ramp up sales to Saudi Arabia by 100times despite air strikes on civilians.

Read the Guardian article Human rights group condemn steep rise in UK arms sales to Saudis.

“The UK Government’s incredible level of material support directly to Saudi Arabia patently undermines its claims to operate one of the most rigorous arms export control regimes in the world.”

Roy Isbister