United States urged to reject bomb sales to Saudi Arabia

The order includes 5,200 Paveway II laser-guided bombs in their GBU-10 and GBU-12 variants, along with 1,100 of the more modern, longer range GBU-24 Paveway III. "Supporting proxy wars, interventions, and military occupations will only add fuel to the fire". The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported in September that "almost two-thirds of reported civilian deaths had allegedly been caused by coalition airstrikes, which were also responsible for nearly two-thirds of damaged or destroyed civilian public buildings".

More than 2,500 civilians have been killed in Yemen, majority in air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition against the country's opposition Houthi forces, according to the UN.

"It's also illegal under U.S. and global law to transfer weapons to human rights abusers, or to forces that will likely use it to commit gross violations of human rights", Jarrar continued.

Hundreds of Yemenis on Friday gathered around the Saudi Arabia Consulate General's compound in London to show their support and gratitude for the Saudi-led Arab Coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen.

The sale comes after President Barack Obama promised in May to work with Gulf Arab States on increased security cooperation, particularly "on fast-tracking arms transfers counter terrorism, maritime security, cyber security and ballistic missile defense".

They have already arrived in the province, they said. But Washington has stood by its ally, which is also a key player in the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State jihadist group further north in Iraq and Syria.

The Pentagon said earlier this week that the US State Department has approved the sale to supply Saudi forces with smart bombs worth $1.29 billion.