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Iran looms large over Senate fight to block arms sales for Saudi war in Yemen

Resolution sponsors insist: It’s a civil war, not a proxy war.
People stand on the rubble of a school destroyed by a Saudi-led air strike in an outskirt of the northwestern city of Saada, Yemen September 14, 2016. REUTERS/Naif Rahma - RTSNNEQ

A bipartisan group of senators seeking to block US weapons sales to Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen are trying to disarm critics by arguing that their effort won’t benefit Iran.

The four lawmakers and their allies in the human rights community insist that the Saudi-led campaign is a civil war, not a proxy war. The Senate is expected to vote on their measure to block a proposed $1.15 billion sale of tanks and other weapons on Sept. 21.

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