France confirms arms shipment to Saudi Arabia despite fears weapons will be used to fuel conflict in Yemen
- Shipment set to be loaded onto Saudi cargo ship due to arrive on Wednesday, French defence minister confirms
The French government confirmed Wednesday that a new shipment of weapons will head for Saudi Arabia, despite claims Riyadh is using the arms in the Yemen war.
Defence Minister Florence Parly told BFM television the weapons would be loaded onto a Saudi cargo ship scheduled to arrive Wednesday in the French port of Le Havre.
She refused to identify the types of arms, but reiterated France’s stance that they have been used only for defensive purposes by Saudi Arabia since it began its Yemen offensive in 2015.
“As far as the French government is aware, we have no proof that the victims in Yemen are the result of the use of French weapons,” Parly said.
Pressure has been mounting on the government after the investigative news site Disclose leaked a classified military note last month detailing the use of French tanks and artillery in the war against Huthi rebels.
Disclose alleged the new shipment included eight truck-mounted Caesar howitzers, though a government source told AFP this week that such cannons were not part of the delivery.