The US State Department has given the green light to the first-ever sale of advanced precision missile systems to Saudi Arabia for about $100 million, the Pentagon announced on March 20, 2025, confirming that the decision was made amid the ongoing conflict with the Houthis in Yemen. As The New Arab notes, the deal concerns the delivery of advanced weapons systems called APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System), designed for precision strikes against ground and air targets. The move highlights the strengthening of military cooperation between Washington and Riyadh amid escalating tensions in the region, where US forces are also conducting active operations against Yemeni rebels.

The sale of the precision-guided missiles was made possible by the State Department, but a final contract has not yet been confirmed. The prime contractor is BAE Systems, which makes the laser-guided missiles, which are highly accurate and relatively inexpensive — about $22 per unit. According to the Pentagon, the weapons are intended to enhance Saudi Arabia’s ability to counter current and future threats while minimizing the risk of collateral damage compared with other guided weapons systems. The decision comes as the United States launches a series of strikes on Houthi rebel positions in Yemen that began on March 15 and have already killed more than 50 people, making it the largest operation since Donald Trump returned to the White House.

The conflict in Yemen, which erupted in 2014 after the Houthis captured the capital Sanaa, remains one of the region’s key issues. Saudi Arabia, concerned about the growing influence of Shiite Iran on its border, led a Western-backed coalition in 2015 to restore the recognized government. Although a 2022 ceasefire has reduced the intensity of the fighting, the war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and left millions of Yemenis on the brink of starvation. The Houthis, backed by Tehran, continue to attack shipping in the Red Sea, declaring solidarity with the Palestinian movement Hamas, increasing pressure on Saudi Arabia and its allies.