U.S. Senate Votes to End Military Support of Saudi-Led War in Yemen

In an unprecedented move, the Senate has voted 56-to-41 to withdraw U.S. military support in the Saudi-led war in Yemen, per Reuters. This marks the first time that the Senate has voted to end U.S. military action using its powers under the War Powers Act of 1973, a point emphasized by Vt. Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the senators to lead the resolution, along with Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Mike Lee (R-UT).

HISTORIC VICTORY: The Senate has voted to stop U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. This is the first time ever that the Senate has voted to end an unauthorized war. https://t.co/8SLVTA5m2d

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 13, 2018

The nearly four-year conflict is responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, and has contributed to what United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres declared to be ‘the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.’

Following the vote on withdrawing U.S. support from Yemen, the Senate also passed a resolution saying Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is responsible for the murder of slain Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The move marks a sharp blow to President Trump’s continued support of the Crown Prince, and comes as a rare bit of positive news from the Senate, where late last month, the bill advanced with the unlikely support of both parties.

It’s improbable that the resolution will pass the House, where Republican leaders have decided to stall taking up the bill until next year. Still, the move comes as a historic moment in the U.S. finally standing up to Saudi interests, but more importantly, as a way for the country to hopefully address its role in an ongoing humanitarian crisis.