French weapons used by Saudi-led coalition in Yemeni conflict
Moscow, Apr 15 (Sputnik/UNI) French weapons, sold to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been used in a civil war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition supports one of the sides, Disclose website and Franceinfo broadcaster reported on Monday, citing a confidential report.
In January, French Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly told France Inter broadcaster that she was not aware of any French weapons being used directly in Yemen.
The French weapons used in Yemen include Leclerc tanks, Mirage 2000-9 fighter jets, helicopters, armored vehicles, and howitzers, the media reported, citing a confidential report by the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DRM).
The paper is reportedly dated September 25, 2018. As of that moment, the Saudi armed forces had 48 French-made Caesar howitzers at the border with Yemen. The howitzers are made at Nexer factory, which is fully owned by the French government.
According to the journalists, the report was submitted to Parly, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and French President Emmanuel Macron at the defense council meeting on October 3.
In addition, a new arms export contract was reportedly signed by Nexer and Saudi Arabia in December 2018.
France and he United Kingdom reportedly attempted to convince Germany to drop its ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but Berlin extended the embargo last month.
The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since 2015, with the Saudi-led coalition carrying out airstrikes in the country and imposing blockades. Rights groups have sounded the alarm over the toll the fighting has taken on the civilian population.
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