WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US government continues to support the Saudi-led coalition that is launching air attacks on rebel forces in Yemen’s civil war, Stump acknowledged.
“In order to better utilize Joint Combined Planning Cell (JCPC) at the US Naval Central Command level and consolidate command and control, the JCPC forward team that was in Saudi Arabia moved to Bahrain,” Stump said on Friday.
That support was based on the US policy “of promoting regional security and assisting partners to defend themselves individually and collectively, rather than any specific treaty or agreement,” he added.
During an earlier phase of the conflict, US military personnel offered advice to the Saudi-led coalition, focusing on measures to prevent civilian casualties. However, that JCPC was largely shelved following the cessation of hostilities, Stump said.
Less than five US personnel are currently participating in the JCPC and are focused on logistics and intelligence support, he added.
