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US Arms Sale, Saudi Protests, Pakistan Warns, Houthi Blockade

7/18/2026

22 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The United States approved a sale of 20,000 weapons and met Saudi leaders in Riyadh.
Sana’a University students and staff rallied to protest Saudi airstrikes on airport.
Pakistan warned Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia count as attacks on Pakistan under its pact.
The Houthis said they would block the Bab al-Mandeb strait following Abha airport attack.
The conflict has killed over 8,900 civilians and caused 85,000 child deaths from hunger.

History

Historical Context

After Iraq’s August 1990 invasion of Kuwait, the United States deployed hundreds of thousands of troops to protect Saudi Arabia, cementing a security pact that later produced massive arms sales, including the $110 billion package announced in May 2017. That framework now underpins Washington’s latest approval of additional weapons as Saudi forces face Houthi missile attacks and a threatened Bab al-Mandeb.

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Story summary

The United States approved a sale of 20,000 weapons and met Saudi leaders in Riyadh.
Sana’a University students and staff rallied to protest Saudi airstrikes on airport.
Pakistan warned Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia count as attacks on Pakistan under its pact.
The Houthis said they would block the Bab al-Mandeb strait following Abha airport attack.
The conflict has killed over 8,900 civilians and caused 85,000 child deaths from hunger.

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