During a recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called for an end to the conflict between Sunni Arabs and Houthis in Yemen. He suggested that the war could not be solved through military means, but rather through negotiations brokered by the United Nations. Backed by the Saudis, Sunni Arab countries are seeking intelligence and military assistance from the United States in their war against the Houthis. Mattis’s visit was meant to foster relations with Saudi Arabia in anticipation of President Trump’s foreseeable trip to the nation.
Humanitarian agencies have urged against Saudi-led airstrikes in the Houthi-controlled port city of Al Hudaydah, arguing that it will only exacerbate severe food shortages. Seven million people are at risk of famine in Yemen and the sustained bombing of Al Hudaydah could severely damage infrastructure and diminish the country’s food supply.