Conflicts to Watch in The New Millennium

standpoint?" Following the vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said: "I think
it's important to the United States to maintain as good a relationship with Saudi Arabia
as possible."
A March 2016 Human Rights Watch report states that US participation in specific
military operations, such as selecting targets and aerial refueling during Saudi air raids
"may make US forces jointly responsible for laws-of-war violations by coalition
forces". In September The Guardian reported that one in three bombing raids hit civilian
sites.
US government lawyers have considered whether the United States is legally a "cobelligerent"
in the conflict, but had not reached a conclusion as of September 2016.
Such a finding would oblige the US to investigate allegations of war crimes by the Saudi
coalition, and US military personnel could be subject to prosecution.
On 13 October 2016, the USS Nitze fired Tomahawk missiles at Houthi-controlled radar
sites "in the Dhubab district of Taiz province, a remote area overlooking the Bab al-
Mandab Straight known for fishing and smuggling."
In 2017 the United States sent a total of $599,099,937 of foreign aid to Yemen despite
being a supporter of the Saudi led military intervention.
In January 2017, Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson voiced support for the Saudi
Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. US Secretary of Defense James Mattis asked
President Donald Trump to remove restrictions on US military support for Saudi
Arabia. In February 2017, Mattis wanted to intercept and board an Iranian ship in
the Arabian Sea to look for contraband weapons, which would have constituted an "act
of war". In April 2017, Justin Amash, Walter Jones and other members
of Congresscriticized US involvement in Saudi Arabian military campaign in Yemen,
highlighting that Al Qaeda in Yemen "has emerged as a de facto ally of the Saudi-led
militaries with whom [Trump] administration aims to partner more closely".
On 13 November 2017, the United States House of Representatives passed a
resolution stating the US involvement in Yemen un-authorized under legislation passed
by Congress to fight terrorism.
In November 2017, US Senator Chris Murphy accused the United States of complicity
in Yemen's humanitarian catastrophe.
In December 2017, the Trump administration urged restraint in the Saudi military action
in Yemen, as well as in Qatar and Lebanon.
US bombs used by the coalition have killed Yemeni civilians throughout 2018, including
a Lockheed Martin made bomb that struck a school bus in August, killing 51 people.
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