PARIS: The French government confirmed yesterday that a new shipment of weapons will head for Saudi Arabia, despite claims Riyadh is using the arms in the Yemen war. Defense Minister Florence Parly told BFM television the weapons would be loaded onto a Saudi cargo ship scheduled to arrive Wednesday in the French port of Le Havre. She refused to identify the types of arms, but reiterated France’s stance that they have been used only for defensive purposes by Saudi Arabia since it began its Yemen offensive in 2015.

“As far as the French government is aware, we have no proof that the victims in Yemen are the result of the use of French weapons,” Parly said. “France has strategic interests in this part of the world,” Parly said, adding that the latest shipments were part of “longterm partnerships with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.” — AFP