US passes bill for families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia

Firefighters make their way through the rubble after two airliners, below, crashed into the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001.

On the eve of the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the US House of Representatives has unanimously passed controversial legislation clearing the way for the families of victims to sue Saudi Arabia, if that country is found legally responsible for helping back the deadly terrorist acts.

The bill, which passed the Senate in May, now heads to President Barack Obama's desk.

The White House strongly opposes the legislation and worries the legislation leaves the US open to similar suits.

Critics also argue the bill will put American relations with Saudi Arabia in jeopardy and potentially set a dangerous precedent of Americans suing foreign governments.

Obama is expected to veto the bill.

"It's difficult to imagine the president signing this legislation. That continues to be true," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in May.

At its core, the back and forth over the measure centres on the belief, held by a number of 9/11 families and a bipartisan group of politicians, that Saudi Arabia was involved in the September 11 attacks - 15 of the 19 terrorists were Saudi.

Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer, a co-sponsor of the bill, told reporters in May that he is confident that if the bill is vetoed the Senate would be able to override it because they do not believe the White House arguments stand up.

"I'm pleased the House has taken this huge step forward towards justice for the families of the victims of 9/11," Schumer said.

The Saudi Foreign Minister previously said that his country's opposition to the bill was based on basic principles of sovereign immunity.