Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoTreasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities Navalny released from hospital after suspected poisoning Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers MORE on Monday defended U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen’s civil war as the Senate prepares to take a vote on President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE’s veto of a resolution to end that support.

“Airplanes flying through King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh are at risk, and the United States has an obligation to protect our citizens,” Pompeo said at The Hill’s Newsmaker Series event, referencing rebel missile attacks that have hit the airport.

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“So the support we’re providing to the Saudis as they attempt to engage these dangerous missiles systems is in America’s best interest.”

The U.S. military is providing logistics, intelligence sharing and arms sales to the Saudi coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Congress recently passed a war powers resolution that would have required Trump to withdraw U.S. military forces supporting the Saudi coalition, but Trump vetoed the measure.

The Senate is expected to “process” the veto message this week, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFEC flags McConnell campaign over suspected accounting errors Poll: 59 percent think president elected in November should name next Supreme Court justice Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE’s (R-Ky.) office. It did not specify what type of vote would be taken, and there are several procedural votes McConnell could choose to take rather than a straight override vote that would effectively pigeonhole the veto message.

The resolution passed neither the Senate nor the House with the two-thirds majority that would be required to override a presidential veto.

Lawmakers have been concerned for years about a civilian death toll in the thousands in Yemen largely blamed on Saudi airstrikes.

But the war powers resolution was propelled to passage in large part on lawmakers’ anger at the Saudis over their killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

On Monday at The Hill’s event, sponsored by the Partnership for Open and Fair Skies, Pompeo sidestepped questions about Khashoggi, reiterating that the Trump administration’s investigation into his death is ongoing.

Asked whether Khashoggi’s body will ever be recovered, Pompeo said, “I don’t know the answer to that.”

On the Yemen civil war, Pompeo placed blame solely on Iran, saying the war is “Iranian led” and that Tehran has “chosen to direct” the Houthis not to withdraw from the port of Hodeidah as agreed to last year.

Iran is known to provide weapons to the Houthis, but experts debate the extent of control it has over the rebels.

“The people who were happiest when that resolution passed were Qasem Soleimani and the ayatollah,” Pompeo said, referring to the commander of Iran’s Quds Force. “There’s no doubt about that. When they see the United States shrink away from this challenge that puts United States citizens at risk, they think they’ve achieved a victory.”