This AFP file photo taken on
October 9, 2014 shows employees working at the production line of
Airbus helicopters at the plant in Donauwoerth, southern Germany.
According to disclosed data,
the German government has approved several deals for the export of arms
to countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia as the kingdom
continues its deadly aggression against the impoverished nation of
Yemen. According to an Economy
Ministry letter seen by Reuters on Monday, the EU powerhouse will
deliver 23 Airbus military helicopters to Riyadh.
In
the letter to lawmakers in the economy committee of the lower house of
the parliament, Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel explained that the
government's Federal Security Council had also approved a deal by
Heckler & Koch to deliver 130 machine pistols and automatic rifles
to the United Arab Emirates and allowed Rheinmetall to export 65,000
mortar cartridges to the country,
The United Arab Emirates is among Saudi Arabia’s allies in their invasion against Yemen.
It
also gave the green light for Heckler & Koch's delivery of 660
machine guns, 660 additional gun barrels and 550 sub-machine guns to
Oman.
The government also approved the delivery of five military
helicopters by Airbus to Thailand and the export of nearly 490 machine
pistols and automatic rifles by Heckler & Koch to Indonesia.
In
January, Gabriel had said Germany may look harder at its arms exports
to Saudi Arabia after the Persian Gulf kingdom carried out a mass
execution causing international outcry.
This
AFP photo taken on September 4, 2014, shows a multi-role military
helicopter EC 725 by Airbus Helicopters at an international military
fair in Kielce, Poland.Saudi Arabia is also widely believed to be financing to Takfiri militants wreaking havoc in the Middle East.
Riyadh
has also been engaged in military operations in Yemen since late March
last year. At least 8,400 people, among them 2,236 children, have been
killed so far in the aggression and 16,015 others sustained injuries.
Tens of Saudi soldiers as well as mercenary forces have been killed in
the aggression.
