Congress seeks to hamstring US support for assault on Yemen port
The Trump administration denies supporting the UAE’s offensive on Hodeidah, but lawmakers are skeptical.
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px 'Times New Roman'; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px 'Times New Roman'; color: #14171a; -webkit-text-stroke: #14171a} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} span.s2 {text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none; color: #0463c1; -webkit-text-stroke: 0px #0463c1} span.s3 {font-kerning: none; color: #14171a; -webkit-text-stroke: 0px #14171a} The Donald Trump administration today denied providing support for the Saudi-led Arab coalition’s assault on the key Yemeni port of Hodeidah amid questioning from skeptical US lawmakers.
The denials come as the Senate nears a floor vote this week that could complicate US military support for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as they fight alongside forces loyal to Yemen’s central government against the Iran-backed Houthis. UAE-backed fighters began their assault on the Houthi-held port Tuesday, sparking concerns of a humanitarian disaster.
In addition to selling the UAE and Saudi Arabia billions of dollars' worth of bombs and other weapons used in Yemen, the United States has previously provided midair refueling support that has been integral to their air campaign for the past three years. But pressed by Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., during testimony before the House Middle East panel today, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs David Satterfield denied that the United States is assisting the Hodeidah offensive.
Satterfield declined to comment after the hearing when Al-Monitor asked him if the United States is still providing refueling support for Saudi and Emirati planes operating in Hodeidah. The Wall Street Journal, however, reported Tuesday that the Defense Department has provided its Gulf allies with a list of targets to avoid striking during the assault.
