US motion to end support to Saudi forces in Yemen passes

The US Senate has advanced a measure to withdraw American support for a Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen.

BBC says “In a blow to President Donald Trump, Senators voted 63-37 to take forward a motion on ending US support. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis had urged Senators not to back the motion, saying it would worsen the situation in Yemen.”

Reuters report “Two senior U.S. Cabinet members urged senators on Wednesday not to downgrade ties with Saudi Arabia over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but lawmakers from both parties said they could not turn a blind eye to reports that the country’s de facto ruler was involved in last month’s killing.”

The vote comes in the wake of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a US resident. Criticism of Saudi Arabia has grown since the prominent writer was killed while visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in Turkey on 2 October. The US Senators, who met in a closed session on relations with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, also strongly criticised the non-appearance of the director of the CIA at their hearing.

The BBC quotes correspondents saying that even if the Senate ultimately passes the bipartisan resolution it has little chance of being approved by the House of Representatives.