Saudi Ship Prevented From Loading Arms Cargo In France

A Saudi ship, prevented by rights groups from loading an arms cargo at the French port of Le Havre on Friday, arrived at the Spanish port of Santander early on Monday.

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It was not clear what the Saudi ship was doing in Santander or how long it would stay docked there.

Spain’s interior ministry said they had no information regarding the ship. The defence and foreign ministries were not immediately available for comment.

Saudi Arabia has been condemned by several nations for their role in the Yemen conflict. Human Rights groups have demanded the suspension of arms to the Gulf kingdom in order to deter the ongoing crisis in neighboring Yemen. 

The French human rights group ACAT argued in a legal challenge on Thursday that the arms consignment contravened a U.N. treaty because the weapons might be used against civilians in Yemen, though the case was thrown out by a French judge.

A classified report written by France’s DRM military intelligence agency and published by investigative website Disclose in April showed French arms were being used against civilians in the civil war in Yemen.

The Saudi vessel Bahri-Yanbu set course for Santander shortly after the ruling but without the weapons it was charged with collecting.

Saudi Arabia has been actively involved in several Middle Eastern conflicts since 2011. Some of these conflicts include Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain. 

The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have both voted to end America's participation in the Yemen conflict; however, their resolutions would later be vetoed by President Donald Trump.