US State Department hails Saudi-led coalition to reduce civilian deaths in Yemen
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen is taking steps to reduce civilian casualties, the
U.S. State Department said on Thursday as it defended a certification to
Congress by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to avoid limits on U.S. aid to the kingdom.
"They are taking steps, in the view of the U.S. government
and this administration, in the right direction," State Department spokeswoman
Heather Nauert told a briefing. "We see them taking steps. Is it perfect?
No absolutely not. Do we see them doing what they can to mitigate civilian
casualties? Absolutely we do," she added.
Her comments came a day after Pompeo told Congress that Saudi Arabiaand the United Arab Emirates were working to reduce civilian casualties.
Without that certification, U.S. tanker aircraft would have been restricted in
refuelling Saudi coalition planes conducting strikes against the Iranian-backed rebels.
