In a major reset of American foreign policy, US President Joe <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-to-issue-executive-orders-on-asylum-legal-immigration-separated-families-360866">Biden</a> on Thursday said the United States will end all support including arms sales for ally Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen.

Watch:

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Biden said the war in Yemen as "has created a humanitarian and strategic catastrophe" as Saudi Arabia later reaffirmed support for a "comprehensive political solution" in Yemen.

"We are ending all American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen, including relevant arm sales," President Biden said adding, "at the same time, Saudi Arabia faces missile attacks and other attacks from Iranian supplied forces in multiple countries. We're going to help Saudi Arabia to defend its territory and its people."

Biden also appointed US special envoy for Yemen, Timothy Lenderking in a bid to ensure a ceasefire and revive peace talks between the government and Huthi rebels.&nbsp;

"America is back. Diplomacy is back," Biden asserted. Biden said the United States will work "to ensure that humanitarian aid is reaching the Yemeni people who are suffering unendurable devastation&nbsp;while stating that "this war has to end".

"The kingdom has affirmed its firm position in support of a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis, and welcomes the US emphasis on the importance of supporting diplomatic efforts to resolve the Yemeni crisis," Saudi Arabia said in a statement.

In a Twitter message, Prince Khalid bin Salman said: "We welcome President Biden's stated commitment to work with friends and allies to resolve conflicts, and deal with attacks from Iran &amp; its proxies in the region, "we look forward to continuing working with our American partners to alleviate the humanitarian situation and find a solution to the Yemen crisis."&nbsp;

In a major reset of American foreign policy, US President Joe Biden on Thursday said the United States will end all support including arms sales for ally Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen.

In a major reset of American foreign policy, US President Joe Biden on Thursday said the United States will end all support including arms sales for ally Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. Watch: Biden said the war in Yemen as "has created a humanitarian and strategic catastrophe" as Saudi Arabia later reaffirmed support for a "comprehensive political solution" in Yemen. "We are ending all American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen, including relevant arm sales," President Biden said adding, "at the same time, Saudi Arabia faces missile attacks and other attacks from Iranian supplied forces in multiple countries. We're going to help Saudi Arabia to defend its territory and its people." Biden also appointed US special envoy for Yemen, Timothy Lenderking in a bid to ensure a ceasefire and revive peace talks between the government and Huthi rebels. "America is back. Diplomacy is back," Biden asserted. Biden said the United States will work "to ensure that humanitarian aid is reaching the Yemeni people who are suffering unendurable devastation while stating that "this war has to end". "The kingdom has affirmed its firm position in support of a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis, and welcomes the US emphasis on the importance of supporting diplomatic efforts to resolve the Yemeni crisis," Saudi Arabia said in a statement. In a Twitter message, Prince Khalid bin Salman said: "We welcome President Biden's stated commitment to work with friends and allies to resolve conflicts, and deal with attacks from Iran & its proxies in the region, "we look forward to continuing working with our American partners to alleviate the humanitarian situation and find a solution to the Yemen crisis."

'Humanitarian catastrophe': Biden pulls US out of Yemen war, stops Saudi support

The U.S. State Department notified Congress it approved the sale of 50 Lockheed Martin Co&nbsp;F-35 jets to the United Arab Emirates in a deal that could be worth $10 billion, sources said on Thursday, potentially setting up a showdown with lawmakers over the deal.

The United States and the UAE aim to have a letter of agreement for the F-35 jets in time for UAE National Day celebrated on Dec. 2, Reuters reported in September.

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committees, whose members have criticized the UAE`s role in civilian deaths in Yemen, have the right to review, and block, weapons sales under an informal review process.

Israel initially balked at the prospective sale but last week dropped its opposition after what it described as U.S. guarantees that Israeli military superiority would be preserved.

Any deal must satisfy a longstanding agreement with Israel that any U.S. weapons sold in the region must not impair Israel`s "qualitative military edge," guaranteeing U.S. weapons furnished to Israel are "superior in capability" to those sold to its neighbors.

"We all face a common threat," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an apparent allusion to Iran, told reporters on Thursday when asked about reports of the impending UAE jet sale.

"But with that said, it was important that the (Israeli) defense establishment received this clear American undertaking to preserve our qualitative military edge," added Netanyahu, who earlier on Thursday hosted visiting Pentagon chief Mark Esper.

Representative Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, confirmed that an informal notification was sent to Congress on Thursday. "As Congress reviews this sale, it must be clear that changes to the status quo will not put Israel`s military advantage at risk," he said.

The sources said the Trump administration aims to send formal notifications for the deal in the coming days. Once formally notified, Congress can choose to pass legislation to block the sale.

Typically the informal notification process for complex deals like the F-35 sale is 40 days, but the Trump administration is cutting it to just a few days to meet the goal of a UAE National Day signing ceremony, the sources said.

"Rushing these sales is not in anyone`s interest," Engel warned in his statement.

Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made clear he would not automatically support the deal in a statement adding that "recklessly accelerating the timeline around a reportedly artificial deadline precludes sufficient consideration."

The UAE, one of Washington`s closest Middle East allies, has long expressed interest in acquiring the stealthy F-35 jets and was promised a chance to buy them in a side deal when it agreed to normalize relations with Israel.

Because of the qualitative military edge restriction, in the past the F-35 has been denied to Arab states, while Israel has about 24 of the jets. Israel is currently slated to purchase 50 of the fighters.

The U.S. State Department notified Congress it approved the sale of 50 Lockheed Martin Co F-35 jets to the United Arab Emirates in a deal that could be worth $10 billion, sources said on Thursday, potentially setting up a showdown with lawmakers over the deal.

The U.S. State Department notified Congress it approved the sale of 50 Lockheed Martin Co F-35 jets to the United Arab Emirates in a deal that could be worth $10 billion, sources said on Thursday, potentially setting up a showdown with lawmakers over the deal. The United States and the UAE aim to have a letter of agreement for the F-35 jets in time for UAE National Day celebrated on Dec. 2, Reuters reported in September. The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committees, whose members have criticized the UAE`s role in civilian deaths in Yemen, have the right to review, and block, weapons sales under an informal review process. Israel initially balked at the prospective sale but last week dropped its opposition after what it described as U.S. guarantees that Israeli military superiority would be preserved. Any deal must satisfy a longstanding agreement with Israel that any U.S. weapons sold in the region must not impair Israel`s "qualitative military edge," guaranteeing U.S. weapons furnished to Israel are "superior in capability" to those sold to its neighbors. "We all face a common threat," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an apparent allusion to Iran, told reporters on Thursday when asked about reports of the impending UAE jet sale. "But with that said, it was important that the (Israeli) defense establishment received this clear American undertaking to preserve our qualitative military edge," added Netanyahu, who earlier on Thursday hosted visiting Pentagon chief Mark Esper. Representative Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, confirmed that an informal notification was sent to Congress on Thursday. "As Congress reviews this sale, it must be clear that changes to the status quo will not put Israel`s military advantage at risk," he said. The sources said the Trump administration aims to send formal notifications for the deal in the coming days. Once formally notified, Congress can choose to pass legislation to block the sale. Typically the informal notification process for complex deals like the F-35 sale is 40 days, but the Trump administration is cutting it to just a few days to meet the goal of a UAE National Day signing ceremony, the sources said. "Rushing these sales is not in anyone`s interest," Engel warned in his statement. Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made clear he would not automatically support the deal in a statement adding that "recklessly accelerating the timeline around a reportedly artificial deadline precludes sufficient consideration." The UAE, one of Washington`s closest Middle East allies, has long expressed interest in acquiring the stealthy F-35 jets and was promised a chance to buy them in a side deal when it agreed to normalize relations with Israel. Because of the qualitative military edge restriction, in the past the F-35 has been denied to Arab states, while Israel has about 24 of the jets. Israel is currently slated to purchase 50 of the fighters.

Trump admin moves forward with sale of 50 F-35 jets to UAE, notifies Congress

The US State Department has issued a report saying the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not break any rules by conducting an arms sales with Saudi Arabia.

A final report was issued on Monday by the US State Department. The report was concluded by the State Department's&nbsp;Acting Inspector General&nbsp;Diana Shaw.

The report investigated Pompeo's actions of declaring a "national emergency" to justify a $8 billion in military sales to the Gulf Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, despite congressional objections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-urges-key-afghan-gathering-to-free-taliban-prisoners-318770">Also read:&nbsp;Pompeo urges key Afghan gathering to free Taliban prisoners</a>

The Inspector General, who has followed several others in this position, has declared that there was no wrong-doing in Pompeo's decision — a decision the Trump administration wanted to hear.

Earlier in May,&nbsp;then-Inspector General Steve Linick was abruptly fired by US President Donald Trump while he was investigating Pompeo.

Linick was&nbsp;was succeeded by Stephen Akard, who resigned from his post last week after recusing himself from the arms sales investigation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-to-discuss-us-iran-arms-embargo-push-next-week-318982">Also read:&nbsp;UN to discuss US Iran arms embargo push next week</a>

The investigation then fell on&nbsp;&nbsp;Diana Shaw, who was Stephen's Akard's Deputy, and is now serving as the Acting Inspector General.

Linick and Akard are not the only ones who have had to leave their post mid-term. The frequent change in the position of Inspector general has raised concerns for the Democrats, and even some of the Republican colleagues of the President.

Representative Eliot Engel, the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee said he is worried that the report was discussed internally before being released publically.

"The people briefing the press were the subjects of the IG’s probe, not the report’s authors. This obvious pre-spin of the findings reeks of an attempt to distract and mislead," Engel said.

While Pompeo has been declared non-guilty, the focus now is on the investigation of Linick's abrupt termination from his role as an IG.

The US State Department has issued a report saying the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not break any rules by conducting an arms sales with Saudi Arabia. A final report was issued on Monday by the US State Department.

The US State Department has issued a report saying the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not break any rules by conducting an arms sales with Saudi Arabia. A final report was issued on Monday by the US State Department. The report was concluded by the State Department's Acting Inspector General Diana Shaw. The report investigated Pompeo's actions of declaring a "national emergency" to justify a $8 billion in military sales to the Gulf Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, despite congressional objections. Also read: Pompeo urges key Afghan gathering to free Taliban prisoners The Inspector General, who has followed several others in this position, has declared that there was no wrong-doing in Pompeo's decision — a decision the Trump administration wanted to hear. Earlier in May, then-Inspector General Steve Linick was abruptly fired by US President Donald Trump while he was investigating Pompeo. Linick was was succeeded by Stephen Akard, who resigned from his post last week after recusing himself from the arms sales investigation. Also read: UN to discuss US Iran arms embargo push next week The investigation then fell on Diana Shaw, who was Stephen's Akard's Deputy, and is now serving as the Acting Inspector General. Linick and Akard are not the only ones who have had to leave their post mid-term. The frequent change in the position of Inspector general has raised concerns for the Democrats, and even some of the Republican colleagues of the President. Representative Eliot Engel, the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee said he is worried that the report was discussed internally before being released publically. "The people briefing the press were the subjects of the IG’s probe, not the report’s authors. This obvious pre-spin of the findings reeks of an attempt to distract and mislead," Engel said. While Pompeo has been declared non-guilty, the focus now is on the investigation of Linick's abrupt termination from his role as an IG.

Pompeo did not break law by selling arms to Saudi, concludes US IG

US President Donald Trump on Monday&nbsp;defended ousting the state department's independent watchdog by calling it ''fully&nbsp;justified''.&nbsp;

Steve Linick, the agency's inspector general, was investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for staff misuse and&nbsp;arms deal with Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;Trump fired had fired him on Friday.

Earlier,&nbsp;Pompeo had&nbsp;denied seeking to fire him&nbsp;in "retaliation" for an investigation.

Pompeo confirmed that he had recommended Linick's removal for "undermining" the state department, but said he did not know that the inspector general was investigating him.

"I went to the president and made clear to him that Inspector General Linick wasn't performing a function in a way that we had tried to get him to, that was additive for the state department, very consistent with what the statute says he's supposed to be doing," he said.

He is the fourth inspector general (IG) to be fired by&nbsp;Trump in four weeks, and the move sparked outcry from Democrats, who claimed Linick was fired for political reasons.

According to Democratic congressional aides, Linick had nearly completed an investigation into a highly&nbsp;controversial decision&nbsp;by Trump and Pompeo last May to approve $8bn in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates without consulting Congress, on the grounds that the regional threat posed by Iran constituted a national emergency.

US President Donald Trump on Monday defended ousting the state department's independent watchdog by calling it ''fully justified''. Steve Linick, the agency's inspector general, was investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for staff misuse and arms deal with Saudi Arabia.

US President Donald Trump on Monday defended ousting the state department's independent watchdog by calling it ''fully justified''. Steve Linick, the agency's inspector general, was investigating Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for staff misuse and arms deal with Saudi Arabia. Trump fired had fired him on Friday. Earlier, Pompeo had denied seeking to fire him in "retaliation" for an investigation. Pompeo confirmed that he had recommended Linick's removal for "undermining" the state department, but said he did not know that the inspector general was investigating him. "I went to the president and made clear to him that Inspector General Linick wasn't performing a function in a way that we had tried to get him to, that was additive for the state department, very consistent with what the statute says he's supposed to be doing," he said. He is the fourth inspector general (IG) to be fired by Trump in four weeks, and the move sparked outcry from Democrats, who claimed Linick was fired for political reasons. According to Democratic congressional aides, Linick had nearly completed an investigation into a highly controversial decision by Trump and Pompeo last May to approve $8bn in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates without consulting Congress, on the grounds that the regional threat posed by Iran constituted a national emergency.

Trump defends firing watchdog investigating Pompeo for arms deal and staff misuse

The Republican-led Senate voted Thursday to block $8.1 billion in<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-acted-unlawfully-on-saudi-arms-exports-court-rules-228952"> US arms sales to Saudi Arabia</a> and other Arab allies, as legislators outraged with the kingdom delivered a symbolic rebuke to President Donald Trump.

Some seven Republicans joined Democrats in supporting each of three resolutions that would prevent the controversial sales announced earlier this year by Trump.

The measures would block 22 separate sales of aircraft support maintenance, precision-guided munitions and other weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan at a moment of heightened tensions in the Middle East.

The votes were only assured this week when Republican leadership agreed to hold the sensitive roll calls on the arms sales that critics say will aggravate the devastating war in Yemen.

Trump's administration took the extraordinary step of bypassing Congress to approve the sale in May, as his administration declared Iran to be a "fundamental threat" to the stability of the Middle East.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said the administration was responding to an emergency caused by Saudi Arabia's historic rival Iran, which backs the Huthi rebels in Yemen.

Senators, including some Republicans, said there were no legitimate grounds to circumvent Congress, which has the right to disapprove arms sales.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump loyalist on several other fronts, offered a full-throated rebuke of the arm sales -- and of the Saudi leadership.

Graham said he hoped his vote would "send a signal to Saudi Arabia that if you act the way you're acting, there is no space for a strategic relationship."&nbsp;

The senator was referring to last year's brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey at the hands of Saudi agents, an incident that triggered a full-blown crisis in Riyadh's relations with the West.

"There is no amount of oil that you can produce that will get me and others to give you a pass on chopping somebody up in a consulate," Graham said, adding that there is also "no amount of threat coming from Iran that's going to require me to give a pass to this brutal barbaric behavior."

The measures would still need to pass the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives before they go to the president's desk.&nbsp;

Trump is expected to veto them, and it will remain an uphill climb for Congress to come up with a two-thirds vote to overcome a veto.

The Republican-led Senate voted Thursday to block $8.1 billion in US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies, as legislators outraged with the kingdom delivered a symbolic rebuke to President Donald Trump.

The Republican-led Senate voted Thursday to block $8.1 billion in US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies, as legislators outraged with the kingdom delivered a symbolic rebuke to President Donald Trump. Some seven Republicans joined Democrats in supporting each of three resolutions that would prevent the controversial sales announced earlier this year by Trump. The measures would block 22 separate sales of aircraft support maintenance, precision-guided munitions and other weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan at a moment of heightened tensions in the Middle East. The votes were only assured this week when Republican leadership agreed to hold the sensitive roll calls on the arms sales that critics say will aggravate the devastating war in Yemen. Trump's administration took the extraordinary step of bypassing Congress to approve the sale in May, as his administration declared Iran to be a "fundamental threat" to the stability of the Middle East. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said the administration was responding to an emergency caused by Saudi Arabia's historic rival Iran, which backs the Huthi rebels in Yemen. Senators, including some Republicans, said there were no legitimate grounds to circumvent Congress, which has the right to disapprove arms sales. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump loyalist on several other fronts, offered a full-throated rebuke of the arm sales -- and of the Saudi leadership. Graham said he hoped his vote would "send a signal to Saudi Arabia that if you act the way you're acting, there is no space for a strategic relationship." The senator was referring to last year's brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey at the hands of Saudi agents, an incident that triggered a full-blown crisis in Riyadh's relations with the West. "There is no amount of oil that you can produce that will get me and others to give you a pass on chopping somebody up in a consulate," Graham said, adding that there is also "no amount of threat coming from Iran that's going to require me to give a pass to this brutal barbaric behavior." The measures would still need to pass the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives before they go to the president's desk. Trump is expected to veto them, and it will remain an uphill climb for Congress to come up with a two-thirds vote to overcome a veto.

US Senators vote to block multi-billion dollar arms sale to Saudi Arabia