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U.S. Military Planes Cleared to Refuel Saudi Jets Bombing Yemeni Targets - WSJ
Aerial refueling operations won’t happen over Yemen
Yemenis investigate the aftermath of an alleged airstrike by a Saudi Arabia-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yarim, Yemen, on Wednesday. On Thursday, the U.S. Defense Department cleared military planes to refuel the Saudi coalition jets.PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY
By
DION NISSENBAUM
April 2, 2015 5:36 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Defense Department has cleared the way for American military planes to start refueling Saudi Arabian jets bombing Houthi fighters in Yemen as the U.S. deepens its role in the expanding regional conflict, U.S. defense officials said Thursday.
U.S. Central Command is poised refuel Saudi planes when asked by Saudi forces, but the aerial refueling operations wouldn’t happen over Yemen, American military officials said.
The new American role comes as U.S. surveillance planes over Yemen are providing the Saudi-led military coalition with intelligence to help carry out airstrikes and try to minimize civilian casualties, the officials said.
U.S. officials have been giving Saudi Arabia information on the movement of Houthi rebels near its long border with Yemen, but haven’t been providing them with specific targeting information, said a senior U.S. military official.
“They’re looking for evidence of any Houthi ground incursion, so we’re actually trying to ease their anxiety about that,” the official said. “We’re not giving them targeting information.”
American military officials also expect the U.S. government to eventually ship more bombs and missiles to Saudi Arabia as it steps up its airstrikes in Yemen.
The U.S. military has played a limited role in the Saudi-led effort so far. And there are few signs that President Barack Obama’s administration wants to see American forces play a bigger role in the fight.
Last month, the U.S. military pulled out of Yemen as Houthi rebels launched new offensives in the country, severely restricting American counterterrorism operations against al Qaeda forces in Yemen, which are viewed as some of the most dangerous militants planning attacks on U.S. targets.
One unexpected impact of the fighting in Yemen has it has disrupted al Qaeda’s efforts to plan attacks on U.S. targets around the world, the U.S. official said.
“The initial evidence is actually that the Houthi advance has caused their external plotting to be sidelined while they figure out how they’re going to deal with the internal vestiges of what appears to be an emerging civil war,” the official said. “Although our capability is diminished, I wouldn’t suggest it puts us at greater risk right now.”
American officials don’t think Saudi is poised to send troops into Yemen and has been trying to provide Riyadh with intelligence to allay fears that Houthis are planning to attack Saudi Arabia.
“I think they are arraying their forces along their border to prevent a Houthi incursion,” the official said. “I think they are arraying their forces along their border to prevent a Houthi incursion. They’re postured defensively.”
Aerial refueling operations won’t happen over Yemen
Yemenis investigate the aftermath of an alleged airstrike by a Saudi Arabia-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yarim, Yemen, on Wednesday. On Thursday, the U.S. Defense Department cleared military planes to refuel the Saudi coalition jets.PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY
By
DION NISSENBAUM
April 2, 2015 5:36 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Defense Department has cleared the way for American military planes to start refueling Saudi Arabian jets bombing Houthi fighters in Yemen as the U.S. deepens its role in the expanding regional conflict, U.S. defense officials said Thursday.
U.S. Central Command is poised refuel Saudi planes when asked by Saudi forces, but the aerial refueling operations wouldn’t happen over Yemen, American military officials said.
The new American role comes as U.S. surveillance planes over Yemen are providing the Saudi-led military coalition with intelligence to help carry out airstrikes and try to minimize civilian casualties, the officials said.
U.S. officials have been giving Saudi Arabia information on the movement of Houthi rebels near its long border with Yemen, but haven’t been providing them with specific targeting information, said a senior U.S. military official.
“They’re looking for evidence of any Houthi ground incursion, so we’re actually trying to ease their anxiety about that,” the official said. “We’re not giving them targeting information.”
American military officials also expect the U.S. government to eventually ship more bombs and missiles to Saudi Arabia as it steps up its airstrikes in Yemen.
The U.S. military has played a limited role in the Saudi-led effort so far. And there are few signs that President Barack Obama’s administration wants to see American forces play a bigger role in the fight.
Last month, the U.S. military pulled out of Yemen as Houthi rebels launched new offensives in the country, severely restricting American counterterrorism operations against al Qaeda forces in Yemen, which are viewed as some of the most dangerous militants planning attacks on U.S. targets.
One unexpected impact of the fighting in Yemen has it has disrupted al Qaeda’s efforts to plan attacks on U.S. targets around the world, the U.S. official said.
“The initial evidence is actually that the Houthi advance has caused their external plotting to be sidelined while they figure out how they’re going to deal with the internal vestiges of what appears to be an emerging civil war,” the official said. “Although our capability is diminished, I wouldn’t suggest it puts us at greater risk right now.”
American officials don’t think Saudi is poised to send troops into Yemen and has been trying to provide Riyadh with intelligence to allay fears that Houthis are planning to attack Saudi Arabia.
“I think they are arraying their forces along their border to prevent a Houthi incursion,” the official said. “I think they are arraying their forces along their border to prevent a Houthi incursion. They’re postured defensively.”
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