Small Wars Journal

For War-Ravaged Yemen, Few Expect ‘Game Changer’ in Saudi-Led Airstrikes After End of U.S. Refueling

Sun, 11/11/2018 - 3:42am

For War-Ravaged Yemen, Few Expect ‘Game Changer’ in Saudi-Led Airstrikes After End of U.S. Refueling by Ali Al Mujahed and Sudarsan Raghavan – Washington Post

The decision by the United States to stop refueling warplanes of a Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen was welcomed by Yemeni rebel officials, human rights activists and aid workers on Saturday.

It also sent a strong signal, they said, about Washington’s increasing unease over airstrikes by its closest Middle East allies that have killed thousands of civilians in Yemen.

But those interviewed said the decision is unlikely to rein in the coalition — unless firmer action is taken. Nor will it alone change the trajectory of Yemen’s war, they said, or its growing humanitarian crisis, which now includes more than 14 million people on the brink of famine — more than half of Yemen’s population.

The United States, Britain and other Western powers continue to assist the coalition with intelligence, logistical support and sales of billions of dollars in weaponry, much of it being used in the conflict in Yemen, the Middle East’s poorest nation.

Saudi Arabia on Friday night claimed that it had asked the Pentagon to stop aerial refueling of its warplanes because its forces were capable of performing the task themselves…

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