US Senate votes to stop backing Yemen war
March 14, 2019
The US Senate has offered a strong bipartisan rebuke to President Donald Trump by voting to end the country's involvement in the Saudi Arabia-led proxy war in Yemen.
The measure passed by a margin of 54 to 46 on Wednesday, with seven Republicans breaking from their party rank and file, including Mike Lee of Utah, who co-sponsored the bill with Democrat Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Read more: In Yemen war, coalition forces rely on German arms and technology
"The bottom line is that the United States should not be supporting a catastrophic war led by a despotic regime with an irresponsible foreign policy," said Sanders, speaking ahead of the vote.
He added that a vote in favor would "begin the process of reclaiming our constitutional authority by ending United States involvement in a war that has not been authorized by Congress and is unconstitutional."
The bill now moves to the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, where it is likely to pass.
White House vows veto
However, the White House has signaled the president's intention to veto the resolution.
A statement from the administration said the bill "seeks to override the president's determination as commander in chief" and will "establish bad precedent."
Read more: Yemen is 'the biggest humanitarian disaster in the world'
Trump has faced backlash in Congress, even from within his own party, over his support of the Saudi regime. The situation became increasingly tense after the murder of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi last year. Lawmakers from both parties have criticized Trump for not condemning Saudi Arabia strongly enough for the killing.
Now in its fifth year, the proxy war in Yemen — with one side backed by Saudi Arabia and the other by its rival, Iran — has killed thousands and caused a staggering humanitarian crisis, leaving millions without food and medicine.
es/cmk (AP, Reuters)
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