US Senate panel advances Saudi sanctions measure

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday backed legislation that would impose sanctions on the Saudi royal family and block some weapons sales, pushing back against President Donald Trump’s close ties to the kingdom.

The vote was 13-9 for the legislation, as three Republicans joined Democrats in backing the measure despite expected opposition from Trump.

Many members of Congress have been agitating to hold Riyadh accountable for human rights abuses, including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Turkey and a humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Lawmakers are also unhappy with the Trump administration’s decision in May to push ahead with more than $8 billion in military sales, sidestepping the congressional review process by declaring an “emergency” over tensions with Iran.

The Senate and House of Representatives passed three resolutions disapproving of those sales. Trump vetoed the legislation on Wednesday.

To become law, the bill advanced by the committee must still pass the full Republican-majority Senate as well as the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives and either be signed by the Republican president or garner two-thirds majorities in both chambers to override a veto.