Nov 2, 2017

House leaders have neutered a bipartisan push to suspend US military support for Saudi Arabia’s campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., had planned to offer a resolution this week requiring President Donald Trump to cease US military involvement in Yemen except for “forces engaged in operations directed at al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula or associated forces.” A new resolution introduced Wednesday and obtained by Al-Monitor, however, eliminates that clause amid pressure from House leaders opposed to the motion.

In addition to eliminating the “removal of armed forces” clause, the new resolution calls on “all responsible countries to take appropriate and necessary measures against the government of Iran, including the interdiction of Iranian weapons to the Houthis.” It also urges an end to the obstruction of humanitarian aid while supporting “the Saudi-led Arab coalition’s commitments to abide by their no-strike list and restricted target list and improve targeting capabilities.”

Khanna told Al-Monitor that he believes that House leadership “negotiated in good faith” on the compromise resolution. The full House is expected to debate and vote on his new resolution later this month.

“At the very least I want to have a vote in the House and a debate in the House to acknowledge that we’ve been refueling [Saudi coalition planes], to acknowledge that we’ve been assisting with targeting and to acknowledge that there are activities that are not authorized under the 2001 [war authorization],” Khanna said. “If we can come to a resolution that would have at least those key provisions in it, I’m OK to have a vote.”