A bipartisan group of US lawmakers pledged to enhance legislation in Congress that would block further support by the American military for the Saudi led coalition in Yemen.
The measure enjoys broad support among Democrats and a number of key Republicans but would face a likely veto by President Donald Trump suggesting delays and high-level negotiations with the White House ahead.
Politicians supporting the measure believe they can generate enough support in Congress to overturn a presidential veto which would force Trump to apply pressure on Riyadh.
“When Yemen see ‘Made in the USA’ on the bombs that are killing them, it tells them the United States of America is responsible for this war,” Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, told reporters at a Capitol Hill press conference.
“This is not a message the United States should be sent to the world. The United States should not be supporting a catastrophic war led by a despotic Saudi regime with a dangerous and irresponsible military policy.”
US military had provided crucial aerial refuelling for Saudi-UAE jets that were also using US-made weapons that carry out airstrikes inside Houthi led territory in Yemen.
On November 10, the US Defense Department said it was suspending aerial refuelling, and the US pressed Saudi Arabia to agree to a UN-brokered ceasefire.
A US-based humanitarian group, International Rescue Committee, warned on January 30 that the ceasefire was breaking down as clashes between Houthi rebels and government forces increased.
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