Congress prepares for another showdown over Saudi arms sales

Julian Pecquet

Mar 9, 2017

TOPSHOT - Smoke billows on September 14, 2016 following a reported airstrike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
Saudi Arabia has faced repeated criticism from rights groups over civilian casualties in the coalition's military campaign against rebels in Yemen that was launched in March 2015. More than 6,600 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the intervention of the Saudi-led Arab coalition, according to UN figures.

/ AFP / MOHAMMED HUWAIS (Photo credi — Smoke billows following a reported airstrike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in Sanaa, Yemen, Sept. 14, 2016. — Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty Images

Congress is bracing for another showdown over arms sales to Saudi Arabia less than six months after lawmakers' last fight on the issue.

The Donald Trump administration is expected to formally notify lawmakers soon of its intention to resume the sale of precision-guided munitions that were put on hold by President Barack Obama. The notification would automatically trigger a 30-day review period during which Congress can try to block the sale.