Trump vetoes moves to end US involvement in Yemen war

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has vetoed a resolution passed by Congress to end US military assistance in Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen.

The veto — the second in Trump’s presidency — was expected, and Congress lacks the votes to override it. But passing the neverbeforeused war powers resolution was viewed as a milestone for lawmakers, who have shown a renewed willingness to assert their warmaking authority after letting it atrophy for decades under presidents from both parties.

‘‘This resolution is an unnecessary, dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities, endangering the lives of American citizens and brave service members, both today and in the future,’’ Trump wrote in explaining his veto.

Congress has grown uneasy with Trump’s close relationship with Saudi Arabia as he tries to further isolate Iran. Many lawmakers also criticised the president for not condemning Saudi Arabia for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The US provides billions of dollars of arms to the Saudiled coalition fighting against Iranbacked Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Members of Congress have expressed concern about the thousands of civilians killed in coalition airstrikes since the conflict began in 2014.

Trump said the measure was unnecessary because except for counterterrorism operations against Islamic State militants and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the United States is not engaged in hostilities in or affecting Yemen.

He said there were no US military personnel in Yemen, although he acknowledged the US has provided limited support to the Saudi coalition.

The president also said the measure would harm bilateral relations and interferes with his constitutional power as commander in chief.

David Miliband, President of the International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian aid group, said: ‘‘This veto by President Trump is morally wrong and strategically wrongheaded. It sets back the hopes for respite for the Yemeni people, and leaves the US upholding a failed strategy.’’ — AP