Congress revives bid to pull US out of Yemen war

Jul 2, 2020

The Democratic-held House is taking another stab at ending US support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. 

The House Armed Services Committee voted 31-25 Wednesday to add language to a key defense authorization bill that would ban the Donald Trump administration from using funds to provide the Saudi coalition with logistical support in its war against the Houthis.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced the amendment, which mirrors a provision he introduced last year to pull the United States out of the Yemen war. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., was the lone Republican to join Democrats in voting for the amendment.

“Two years ago, a similar amendment to end US refueling of Saudi-led coalition planes only received 19 votes,” said Geo Saba, Khanna’s legislative director. “We will work tirelessly to keep it in the final bill as it moves to conference in an effort to help bring an end to the war.”

Khanna’s legislation — alongside another provision he added to defund any offensive military action against Iran — proved to be a major obstacle in negotiations with the Republican-held Senate to arrive at a compromise defense bill last year. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., ultimately agreed to drop the provision from last year’s bill amid opposition from the White House and Senate Republican leaders.