Spain cancels sale of 400 laser-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia

SANAA, Sept. 4 (YPA) – Spain on Tuesday canceled an agreement was signed in  2015 to sell 400 laser-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia, amid fears that they would be used against civilians in Yemen.

A defence ministry spokesman confirmed a report by Cadena SER Ridao said that Spain’s new Socialist government planned to return the 9.2 million euros ($10.6 million) already paid by the Saudis for the arms under a deal signed by the previous conservative administration.

She declined to elaborate but the announcement comes after an August airstrike waged by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen that killed dozens of civilians, including 40 children.

International rights groups, including “Green Peace” and “Oxfam” called on Madrid to stop arms sales to Riyadh during a meeting with the Spanish Minister of State for trade.

E.M