US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the US government’s policy of selling precision-guided missiles to countries like Saudi Arabia — which has been criticised for killing civilians during its campaign in Yemen — could save innocent people’s lives.

“It is this administration’s judgement that providing precision-guided munitions actually decreases the risk,” Mr Pompeo said during a congressional hearing.

The comments came after reports that the Trump administration had asked Congress to review the sale of more than 120,000 precision-guided missiles and munitions to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Members of Congress have expressed concern about Saudi Arabia’s involvement in Yemen, the country has been leading a campaign against Houthi rebels.

Thousands of civilians have been caught in the crossfire since March 2015, when the country entered the fray.

Last year, the United States approved a massive $110bn (£82bn) arms deal with Saudi Arabia, which the Trump administration said, would in part help to reduce civilian casualties. It included radars, precision guided bombs, and training for Saudi soldiers. About $7bn (£5.2bn) worth of guided missiles sales to Saudi Arabia were included.

President Donald Trump has indicated in the past that he views foreign weapons sales as a way to create jobs in the United States, which is already one of largest sources of weapons sales in the world.

The situation in Yemen Show all 14 1 /14 The situation in Yemen The situation in Yemen Houthi supporters trample on a US flag during a gathering mobilizing more fighters into several Yemeni battlefronts, in Sana'a, Yemen EPA The situation in Yemen People carry the coffins of men, who were killed in the recent Saudi-led airstrikes during their funeral, in the Old City of Sanaa, Yemen AP The situation in Yemen Pro-government fighters give food to Yemeni children on the road leading to the southwestern port city of Mokha. Yemeni rebels are putting up fierce resistance in a key Red Sea port city where they are encircled by pro-government force Getty Images The situation in Yemen A Yemeni stands in front of a graffiti protesting US military operations in war-affected Yemen, in Sana'a, Yemen. According to reports, US Special Forces troops allegedly disembarked from US helicopters in the Yemeni town of Yakla and attacked several houses belonging to members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, killing three high-ranking Al-Qaeda members and nine civilians, six women and three children. One American serviceman has been killed and three injured in the attack EPA The situation in Yemen US Special Forces troops allegedly disembarked from US helicopters in the Yemeni town of Yakla and attacked several houses belonging to members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, killing three high-ranking Al-Qaeda members and nine civilians, six women and three children. One American serviceman has been killed and three injured in the attack EPA The situation in Yemen A Yemeni female fighter supporting the Shiite Huthi rebels, and carrying weapons used for ceremonial purposes, takes part in an anti-Saudi rally in the capital Sanaa Getty Images The situation in Yemen Yemeni female fighters supporting the Shiite Huthi rebels, and carrying weapons used for ceremonial purposes, take part in an anti-Saudi rally in the capital Sanaa Getty Images The situation in Yemen A boy shouts slogans next to pro-Houthi fighters, who have been injured during recent fighting, during a rally held to honour those injured or maimed while fighting in Houthi ranks in Sanaa, Yemen Reuters The situation in Yemen Balls of fire and smoke rise from a Houthi-held military camp following alleged Saudi-led airstrikes, in Sana'a, Yemen EPA The situation in Yemen Yemenis search under the rubble of damaged houses following reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa Getty Images The situation in Yemen A Yemeni boy looks on as Yemenis search under the rubble of damaged houses following reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa Getty The situation in Yemen A Yemeni boy sits amidst the rubble of damaged houses following reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa AFP/Getty The situation in Yemen Marine One with US President Donald Trump flies with a decoy and support helicopters to Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, for the dignified transfer of Navy Seal Chief Petty Officer William 'Ryan' Owens who was killed in Yemen Getty Images The situation in Yemen US President Donald Trump aboard the Marine One to greet the remains of a US military commando killed during a raid on the al Qaeda militant group in southern Yemen on Sunday, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, US Reuters

It is not clear exactly what portion of the guided missile sales are currently being reviewed.

The civil war in Yemen began in 2015 and has seen drastically deteriorating conditions for many people in that country. More than 190,000 people have fled the violence and into neighbouring countries, while another 280,692 people have sought refuge in less violent portions of Yemen itself, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency, or the UNHCR.