Citing agreement with Biden, Sanders withdraws Yemen War Powers resolution

Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday night withdrew a Senate resolution to end U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led war on Yemen but vowed to work with the Biden administration and congressional colleagues to keep trying.

“Today, I withdrew from consideration by the U.S. Senate my War Powers Resolution after the Biden administration agreed to continue working with my office on ending the war in Yemen,” Sanders said in a statement.

“Let me be clear,” Sanders continued: “If we do not reach an agreement, I will, along with my colleagues, bring this resolution back for a vote in the near future and do everything possible to end this horrific conflict.”

In July, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), along with Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), had introduced a Senate war powers resolution (WPR) after a similar measure was put forth in the House by Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) the previous month.

The Saudi-led intervention in support of the Yemeni government against Houthi rebels began several months after the civil war broke out in the country in late 2014. According to United Nations humanitarian officials, nearly 400,000 people have died since then, and a Saudi blockade has exacerbated starvation and disease in the country of 30 million people—more than 23 million of whom required assistance in 2022.

Prior to Sanders’ withdrawal of the resolution, hundreds of advocacy groups and activists had urged lawmakers to pass the Yemen WPR.

Originally published at Commondreams.org.