The US special envoy for Yemen, Timothy Lenderking, testified before Congress today on the war in Yemen. He specifically addressed US diplomatic progress on ending the war, risks to American citizens, and involvement by Saudi Arabia and Iran in the conflict.

Lenderking, who was appointed by US President Joe Biden in February, spoke before the Middle East subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in a virtual hearing on the Yemeni civil war and the accompanying humanitarian crisis, as well as efforts by the United States to solve both issues.

Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014. The Yemeni government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, is fighting Houthi rebel forces, which are supported by Iran. The war has led to economic misery and famine-like conditions, not to mention civilian deaths from the fighting and the COVID-19 situation in the country. Both sides have been accused of human rights abuses and impeding humanitarian deliveries. Houthi forces also regularly conduct cross-border attacks on Saudi territory.

This month, Saudi Arabia proposed a cease-fire to end the fighting, but Houthi forces rejected it. The United States is presently working to build support for a cease-fire. The US military also continues to provide defensive support to Saudi Arabia, despite increasing criticism from Democrats in Congress of the US-Saudi relationship. In February, Biden said he ended US support for offensive Saudi operations in Yemen. Last month, the United States resumed sending aid to Houthi parts of the country.