US warns Saudis of threats

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 : The United States has warned Saudi Arabia that concern in Congress over the humanitarian situation in Yemen could constrain US assistance, as it pushed Riyadh to allow greater access for humanitarian aid, a US official said on Friday.
The Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Iran-aligned armed Houthi movement in Yemen's civil war started a blockade of ports a month ago after Saudi Arabia intercepted a missile fired towards its capital Riyadh from Yemen.
Yemeni officials say Saudi-led coalition airstrikes have killed at least 27 civilians, including women and children, in the country's north. A Saudi-led coalition air strike also hit Yemen's rebel-controlled state television station in Sanaa overnight, killing four guards.
Although the blockade later eased, Yemen's situation has remained dire. About 8 million people are on the brink of famine with outbreaks of cholera and diphtheria.
That has led the White House to take the rare step of issuing two written statements in a week on Yemen, including one on Friday calling on the Saudi-led coalition to help facilitate the free flow of humanitarian aid and critical goods, like fuel.     —REUTERS