The defense bill signed by President Trump on Monday could end the U.S. military’s refueling of Saudi warplanes in the Yemen war within weeks unless the Pentagon acts to assure Congress.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is required under the National Defense Authorization Act to certify to lawmakers within 30 days that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are taking steps to limit civilian casualties, end the conflict, and alleviate the crushing humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Otherwise, the NDAA cuts off funding for the military refueling operations, which have drawn fire from members of Congress.
Trump signed the requirement into law just days after Mattis sent a three-star general to Riyadh to look into reports of a Saudi strike that hit a school bus and killed civilians in the northern part of Yemen.
“The horrific school bus strike in Yemen that killed 40 innocent children underscores the need for our provision that was signed into law as part of the NDAA yesterday,” Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
Young, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, sponsored the measure in the Senate with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee. The measure was also championed by Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee.
“Our humanitarian principles and our national security interests require that the United States use its influence to end the civil war in Yemen and address the world’s largest humanitarian crisis,” Young said.
In March, the Senate narrowly defeated a resolution by Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah; Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.; and Chris Murphy, D-Conn. calling for an end to U.S. support in the war.
A Saudi-led coalition including the UAE is fighting a Houthi rebellion and has been criticized for indiscriminate bombing as part of civil war that erupted in 2015.
In his signing statement, the president raised concerns about the provision on Yemen support along with a raft of other restrictions on foreign policy, saying he is only required to comply with the certification if it is “feasible.”
The U.S. military refuels Saudi aircraft and also provides intelligence and training to the longtime Middle East ally. Mattis had urged Congress earlier this year not to restrict the assistance, saying the military could help Saudi Arabia limit civilian casualties if the two nations are allowed to work together.
“We are not engaged in the civil war. We will help to prevent, you know, the killing of innocent people. I’m very concerned about the humanitarian situation. It’s, I believe, the largest cholera outbreak we’ve ever seen. So, we’re working that,” Mattis said on Sunday.
