Washington, April 1 (RHC)-- U.S. President Barack Obama has lifted an arms freeze on Egypt imposed following the 2013 military ouster of the first democratically elected government.

During a Tuesday phone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the U.S. president announced that he would allow 12 F-16 aircraft, 20 Harpoon missiles, and 125 M1A1 tank kits to be delivered to Cairo. Obama also said he would continue his support for $1.3 billion in annual military assistance.

The announcement comes at a time that Egypt has engaged in an aggression on Yemen led by Saudi Arabia. Cairo has even said that it may send ground troops to the impoverished country to back Saudi warplanes’ air raids.