WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, released the following statement on Saturday after the White House announced an “immediate review” of U.S. support for the Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen.

"Saudi airstrikes, with support from the United States, have killed thousands of civilians in Yemen. ‎Yesterday's attack on large funeral party follows months of attacks on schools, homes, and hospitals. I know the administration is just as horrified as I am by the Saudis' seemingly willful neglect for civilian life, but we are past the point of strongly worded statements," said Murphy. "If the U.S. is serious when it says our support for Saudi Arabia isn't a blank check, then it's time to prove it -- because it's clear the Saudi-led coalition isn't listening. The administration should pull U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen because it's harming America's national security, enabling terrorist groups to thrive, and killing innocent civilians.”

In September, Murphy joined Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), and Mike Lee (R-Utah) in introducing a joint resolution of disapproval, S.J.Res 39, to block the $1.15 billion U.S. sale of Abrams tanks and associated major defense articles to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In April, Murphy and Paul  introduced a joint resolution to increase Congressional oversight of military sales to Saudi Arabia by requiring the President of the United States to formally certify that the Government of Saudi Arabia is demonstrating an ongoing effort to target terrorist groups, minimize harm to civilians, and facilitate humanitarian assistance before Congress can consider the sale or transfer of air-to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia.

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