Yemen conflict: US defends backing for Saudi-led coalition

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has defended the administration's backing of Saudi Arabia in the war in Yemen. He told US Senate members that their planned vote withdrawing support was "poorly timed" and would help Yemeni rebels.

The three-year war has caused a massive humanitarian crisis. The conflict between Saudi-led military coalition and Houthi rebels has killed thousands of people and pushed millions more Yemenis to the brink of starvation.

The US provides intelligence support to the coalition and sells weapons used by the Saudis in Yemen.

According to prepared remarks issued ahead of the briefing, Mr Pompeo said: "The suffering in Yemen grieves me, but if the United States of America was not involved in Yemen, it would be a hell of a lot worse."



https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46376807