The administration of Donald Trump has stressed its backing to the Saudi-led Coalition for the Support of Legitimacy in Yemen, saying that ending US support would worsen the crisis.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday that a US drawdown would lead to a stronger Iran while reinvigorating ISIS.
“So more civilians would die," Pompeo told lawmakers, warning that terrorist groups would also enjoy “safer havens."
Pompeo was briefing the US Senate behind closed doors along with Defense Secretary James Mattis.
"The kingdom is a powerful force for stability in the Middle East," said the Secretary of State.
Pompeo also declared that no evidence links Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the murder of citizen Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in October.
"There is no direct reporting connecting the Crown Prince to the order to murder Jamal Khashoggi," Pompeo said.
He said Crown Prince Mohammed had steered the Kingdom towards reform.
“The US is pleased to announce it is providing nearly $131 million in additional food assistance for Yemen, bringing total humanitarian aid to more than $697 million over the past 14 months,” wrote Pompeo in an opinion article published in the Wall Street Journal.
Mattis also defended the US role in Yemen and stressed the importance of the close partnership with Saudi Arabia.
He said the timing for a vote on a US drawdown in Yemen was not appropriate.
