It also surpasses the total amount of deals offered to Saudi Arabia in President Barack Obama's eight years in office. Human Rights Watch described the sale as rewarding "Saudi war crimes" with weapons. "Not only is he (Trump) failing to acknowledge human rights, but he praised Saudi Arabia for its strong action in Yemen," said Kristine Beckerle, a Saudi Arabia researcher for Human Rights Watch. Amnesty International said the "glaring absence of human rights from Trump's agenda" in talks with Gulf Arab rulers will only embolden further violations against critics, peaceful dissidents and human rights defenders. Saudi Arabia accuses its Shiite rival Iran of trying to turn the Houthis into a militant group similar to Lebanon's Hezbollah.

Source: ABC News May 21, 2017 13:50 UTC