In a confrontation with a crucial ally, President Trump called on Saudi Arabia Wednesday to halt a blockade of Yemen that is preventing people in the war-ravaged country from receiving food and medicine.
Mr. Trump said U.S. officials asked Saudi leaders to “completely allow food, fuel, water, and medicine to reach the Yemeni people who desperately need it. This must be done for humanitarian reasons immediately.”
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are battling a Saudi-led coalition in a civil war that has led to a major humanitarian crisis. The U.S. is backing the Saudis with military assistance.
“President Trump rightly called out Saudi Arabia for maintaining its cruel blockade and denying essential supplies from getting to the millions of Yemeni men, women and children in need,” said Sarah Margon, Washington director of Human Rights Watch. “The Trump administration should follow these important words with concrete action, including by using their voice and vote at the [U.N.] Security Council to sanction coalition leaders who refuse to allow sufficient fuel, food and medicine to reach Yemen and by not selling weapons to Riyadh that could be used indiscriminately on Yemeni civilians.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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