In Saudi kingdom, Mattis to push for political solution for Yemen war

report from star and strips,

As the United States considers increasing support for the Saudi Arabian-led coalition backing the Yemeni government in a brutal two-year civil war, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis insisted a political process was the only option to break the stalemate.

“Our goal is for that crisis down there [in Yemen] that ongoing fight be put in front of a UN-brokered negotiating team and try to resolve this politically as soon as possible,” Mattis told reporters aboard a military aircraft Tuesday en route to Riyadh. “It has gone on for a long time.”Saudi Arabia is the first leg of a week-long tour of nations throughout the Middle East and North Africa. And he will meet King Salman on Wednesday.

 President Donald Trump’s administration is weighing options that could further the military’s involvement in Yemen where a Saudi-led group has been fighting Houthi, who control from Yemen’s capital, Sana’a. Mattis on Tuesday declined to discuss specific examples of what the American military could offer to boost the Saudi’s campaign.