Democrats are split on U.S. involvement in Yemen: some party leaders have backed calls to support Aden’s government against the Houthis, while three senators seek to block major Saudi arms sales. Trump pulled back from an attack on Yemen that he had ordered earlier this week.
The fragile 2022 truce broke down this summer, and fighting resumed in July 2026. Saudi Arabia fired warning shots at Sanaa airport to stop a Houthi delegation returning from Iran with Iranian advisers; Houthi forces retaliated, sweeping Yemen’s coast and bombing Saudi oil infrastructure. The U.S. has sent around 100 military advisers to Saudi Arabia in support of the campaign.
Last week, the State Department announced sales to Saudi Arabia worth $24.3 billion in F-35 fighter jets and $5 billion in bombs. Sen. Ed Markey introduced a resolution to block them, cosponsored by Sens. Jeff Merkley and Bernie Sanders. Rep. Joe Wilson proposed $100 million each for Aden’s military aid, economic aid and anti-Houthi propaganda; Gregory Meeks also called for renewed dialogue and diplomacy.
