House lawmakers are circulating a letter calling for Defense Secretary James Mattis to prevent a "catastrophic" military operation on a key port in Yemen, The Hill reported Monday.
"We urge you to use all available means to avert a catastrophic military assault on Yemen's major port city of Hodeida by the Saudi-led coalition, and to present Congress with immediate clarification regarding the full scope of U.S. military involvement in that conflict," a draft letter from the bipartisan group said, reported The Hill, which obtained a copy.
The letter is being circulated for signatures by: Reps. Mark Pocan, D-Wis.; Justin Amash, R-Mich.; Ro Khanna, D-Calif.; Thomas Massie, R-Ky.; Barbara Lee, D-Calif.; Walter Jones, R-N.C.; and Ted Lieu, D-Calif.
The letter comes after the United Nations and humanitarian groups reported over the weekend they were warned by the United Arab Emirates to evacuate Hodeida by Tuesday. The city is controlled by Houthi rebels fighting a Saudi Arabia-led coalition, which believes the port has been key to the rebels smuggling in arms.
The lawmakers also want more transparency about the U.S. role in Yemen, The Hill reported.
"We call on you to immediately disclose the full extent of the U.S. military role in the Saudi-led war against Yemen's Houthis, including the use of special operations forces; disclose any role that the Pentagon is currently performing, has been asked to perform, or is considering performing regarding an attack on the port of Hodeida; and issue a public declaration opposing this impending assault and restating the administration's position that Saudi Arabia and other parties to the conflict should accept an immediate ceasefire and move toward a political settlement to resolve the conflict."
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