The Biden administration is set to lift a ban on U.S. sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, reversing a policy implemented three years ago to pressure the kingdom to end its involvement in the Yemen conflict. Here are the key details:

Key Developments

• Policy Change
  • The Biden administration has decided to end the ban on offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, a policy initially aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
• Congress Briefed
  • Congress was briefed this week about the decision. Sales could potentially resume as soon as next week, though the timing is still being finalized.
• Administration Statement
  • A senior administration official stated, “The Saudis have met their end of the deal, and we are prepared to meet ours,” indicating a return to regular procedures for major international weapons deals.
• Congressional Review
  • Under U.S. law, significant international weapons deals require Congressional review. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns over the provision of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, citing humanitarian issues related to the Yemen conflict and broader human rights concerns.
• Regional Tensions
  • The decision comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas and subsequent threats of retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah. These regional developments have influenced the policy shift.

Background

• Yemen Conflict
  • The ban was initially imposed to pressure Saudi Arabia to reduce its military involvement in Yemen, where the conflict has caused significant civilian casualties.
• Current Context
  • Recent changes in the conduct of the Yemen campaign and the broader regional instability have contributed to the administration’s decision to lift the ban.

As concerns over a potential broader conflict in the Middle East rise, several international airlines have adjusted their services to and from the region. Here’s a summary of the latest changes:

Airline Adjustments

• Air Algerie
  • Suspended flights to and from Lebanon until further notice.
• Air India
  • Halted all flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice.
• Air France-KLM
  • Air France has paused flights between Paris and Beirut until August 11.
  • KLM has cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until October 26.
• Delta Air Lines
  • Extended suspension of flights between New York and Tel Aviv until August 31.
• EasyJet
  • Ceased flights to and from Tel Aviv in April, with plans to resume on March 30, 2025.
• ITA Airways
  • Extended suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv through August 10.
• Lufthansa
  • Avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace and suspending flights to and from Tel Aviv, Tehran, Beirut, Amman, and Erbil until August 13.
  • Swiss Air Lines has also extended its suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut until August 13.
• Royal Jordanian
  • Suspended flights to and from Beirut until August 10.
• Ryanair
  • Cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until August 23.
• Singapore Airlines
  • Ceased flights over Iranian airspace and is using alternative routes.
• United Airlines
  • Suspended flights to Tel Aviv indefinitely, following a suspension of its Newark-Tel Aviv service on July 31.

Additional Alerts

• Lebanese Airspace
  • The UK has advised its airlines not to enter Lebanese airspace from August 8 until November 4 due to potential risks from military activity.

American sprinter Noah Lyles won the bronze medal in the 200-meter final at the Paris Olympics, despite revealing two days prior that he tested positive for Covid-19. Lyles finished third with a time of 19.70 seconds, trailing gold medalist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, who set a new record with 19.46 seconds. American Kenny Bednarek secured the silver with a time of 19.62 seconds.

Covid-19 Diagnosis and Performance Impact

After testing positive for Covid-19, Lyles isolated himself in a hotel separate from the Olympic Village and wore a mask during warmups for the semifinal. Despite his illness, he chose to compete in the final and did not disclose his diagnosis beforehand, aiming to avoid giving competitors an advantage.

Lyles, known for his energetic presence and previous dominance in sprinting, appeared less vigorous in the 200-meter final. He struggled from the start and collapsed at the finish line, requesting water and needing assistance to leave the track.

Reflections on the Olympics

Lyles expressed pride in earning a bronze medal under the circumstances, stating, “Testing positive for COVID definitely affected my performance. But I’m more proud of myself than anything coming out and getting the bronze medal with COVID in three days.”

Before the final, Lyles had achieved his first Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters, winning by a narrow margin. He had also guaranteed a victory in the 200 meters but fell short of his goal due to his health challenges.

Response from USA Track & Field

USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic Committee emphasized their adherence to health guidelines and supported Lyles’s decision to compete. They stated, “Our primary commitment is to ensure the safety of Team USA athletes while upholding their right to compete. After a thorough medical evaluation, Noah chose to compete tonight. We respect his decision and will continue to monitor his condition closely.”