Senate votes to end US support of Saudi-led Yemen war

Protesters have long called for an end of US military involvement in Yemen

The US Republican-led Senate has approved a bill to end US support for the Saudi-led coalition war in Yemen.

The bipartisan vote was 54 to 46, and is a rebuke to President Donald Trump's support of Saudi Arabia and its leader despite recent tensions.

Mr Trump has vowed to veto the resolution should it pass through the Democrat-led House.

The war in Yemen escalated in 2015 and has left thousands of Yemenis dead and millions more on the brink of famine.

The US sells weapons used by the Saudis and its military provides logistical and intelligence support to the coalition for air strikes.

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The Senate resolution, an unprecedented attempt to curtail presidential powers, seeks to end US military involvement in the conflict within 30 days.

Many lawmakers have taken issue with the number of civilian deaths in Yemen's conflict and have been calling for an end of US military support ever since the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last October.

The Senate has accused Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of ordering the death of the US resident - a charge the prince has denied - and are unhappy with Mr Trump's response to the issue.

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President Trump has described Saudi Arabia as a vital ally and resisted calls for sanctions against the kingdom's leadership.

This is the second time in months a bill on pulling US support for the conflict has been voted on in the Senate - last December's move later stalled in the then Republican-led House of Representatives.

Wednesday's resolution will be considered in the now Democrat-led House, and is thought likely to pass.