The United States House of Representatives voted to end participation in Yemen's civil war on Thursday by passing a measure which denounces the Saudi-led bombing campaign that has contributed to a growing humanitarian crisis in the poorest country in the Middle East, according to The Washington Post.
The vote now positions President Donald Trump for an expected veto since the House followed the Senate by passing the measure 247 to 175, with one member simply voting “present."
The votes fell largely along party lines and reflect how Democrats and Republicans are largely divided on how to challenge Riyadh's efforts to challenge the Houthi Rebels, supported by Iran, in Yemen.
The measure also exhibits the growing divide between lawmakers over challenging the Trump administration's embrace of Saudi Arabia after the killing of Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, a crime which both parties believe Saudi's de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for.
The Senate passed the war powers resolution last month after gaining support from seven Republicans.
The U.S. started participating in the Saudi-led coalition's efforts in Yemen under former President Barack Obama by providing logistical support and aerial refueling.
Though Trump halted the refueling missions last year, his administration has also defended other support for Riyadh, including weapons sales.
But not all Republicans agree with the Trump administration, though many have objected to using a war-powers resolution to force the White House to change U.S.-Saudi policy.
“The fundamental premise of this resolution is flawed because U.S. forces are not engaged in hostilities against the Houthis in Yemen,” said House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX).
“If we want to cut off economic assistance or logistic assistance to Saudi, there’s a way to do that. . . . I think we’re using the wrong vehicle here.”
He also objected to the resolution's silence on the role of Iran in Yemen since the omission “undermines the peace negotiations going on.”
But Democrats argue that aspect is a red herring for the Republicans and say the resolution is necessary to assert Congressional rights to dictate when and where Washington engages in military conflict.
“No blank checks any more. No blank checks to say that administration can run wars without getting the approval of Congress,” House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.) said on the House floor Thursday. “We cannot just sit back and say, well you know we have difficulties with Iran so we’re going to look the other way … No more war in which we’re complicit where a wholesale population is starving.”
There are currently at least 20 million people at risk of starvation in Yemen as the country struggles after years of the conflict raging, with hundreds of thousands more exposed to a cholera epidemic as infrastructure has been decimated across the country.
-WN.com, Maureen Foody
Photo:
AP / Adam Schreck
