US President Donald Trump vetoed on Tuesday night a Congressional resolution that would have ended the US military role in Yemen, the White House said on Tuesday.
“This resolution is an unnecessary, dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities, endangering the lives of American citizens and brave service members, both today and in the future,” Trump said in the veto message.
The president said that the measure would harm bilateral relations and interfere with his constitutional power as commander-in-chief.
He said the US was providing the support to protect more than 80,000 Americans who live in coalition countries subject to Houthi attacks from Yemen.
“Houthis, supported by Iran, have used missiles, armed drones and explosive boats to attack civilian and military targets in those coalition countries, including areas frequented by American citizens, such as the airport in Riyadh,” Trump said.
Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, Yemen’s ambassador to the United States, welcomed Trump's Veto saying it was a political and courageous decision.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat he noted: "The Yemeni government and the Saudi-led Arab coalition will continue exerting needed efforts to achieve peace in the region, however, he added, that Houthis and Iran are trying to destabilize the security and stability of the Yemeni people."
For its part, the UAE also hailed Trump’s veto.
“Support for the Arab coalition is a positive signal of US resolve toward America’s allies,” Anwar Gargash, UAE's Foreign Affairs Minister, tweeted.
"Coalition continues to work without interruption to support peace through UN-led Stockholm Agreement & its commitment to the humanitarian & political dimensions of the Yemen crisis unshakable. President Trump’s important decision is both timely & strategic," he added in another tweet.
