The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) reported that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to assist the Kingdom in defending its territory and people. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby stated that Austin and Prince Mohammed discussed regional security, particularly efforts to end the war in Yemen and "ongoing bilateral efforts to improve Saudi defenses."
Kirby noted that Austin "highlighted the recent successes achieved by Saudi Arabia in countering Houthi attacks on the Kingdom" and thanked the Crown Prince for cooperating with US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking to end the war in Yemen. Last month, Lenderking criticized the Houthis for not seriously engaging in currently stalled efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire, and urged the coalition to lift restrictions on all Yemeni ports and airports. Over 100,000 people have died in the war, most of whom are civilians, and millions of Yemenis rely on humanitarian aid for survival.
