Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday implored senators to oppose a measure aimed at stopping U.S. support for Saudi Arabia in the Yemen war, calling it “misguided.”
The withdrawal of American support could derail an ongoing peace process and make it more difficult for the U.S. to counter Iran and al Qaeda terrorists in the war-torn country, Mattis said during a joint briefing with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to all senators.
The briefing came on the eve of a potential vote on a resolution ending U.S. training and logistical support to the Saudi-led coalition, and growing backlash from lawmakers over the kingdom’s killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
“Senators, I know all too well the difficulty in reconciling human aspirations with war’s grim reality, but I also recognize that we cannot limit civilian casualties or advance the peace effort commencing early next month in Sweden by disengaging,” Mattis said, according to prepared remarks provided by the Pentagon.
Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab coalition battling Iran-backed Houthi rebels in a war that has hit the Yemeni civilian population with violence and starvation. With calls for a ceasefire, U.N. special envoy Martin Griffiths has been meeting with Mattis and working to broker peace with the negotiations on the horizon.
Mattis acknowledged the bipartisan concerns over Khashoggi and the possibility that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was directly involved. Senators have halted arms sales to the kingdom in response, even as Trump warned against scuttling the possibility of $110 billion in sales over the coming decade.
But he said “security interests cannot be dismissed” even as the U.S. seeks accountability.
“I must note we are seldom free to work with unblemished partners. Long-standing relationships guide but do not blind us. Saudi Arabia, due to geography and the Iranian threat, is fundamental to maintaining regional and Israeli security, and to our interest in Mideast stability,” Mattis said. “Pulling back our limited U.S. military support, our weapons sales to our partners, and our protection of the Saudi and Emirati populations would be misguided on the eve of the promising initial negotiations.”
The reports of Saudis bombing civilian targets and the growing humanitarian disaster caused by the three-year-old war has also sparked opposition in Congress.
But the administration support to Saudi Arabia has helped reduce innocent casualties and ease suffering, Mattis said. The State Department said Wednesday it will provide $131 million in additional food assistance to Yemen.
The military support includes advisers and training to no-fire and restricted-fire areas, he told senators.
“While tragedies occur in war, we assess restraint and improved tactical judgment by Arab coalition pilots has reduced the risk of civilian casualties,” Mattis said.
