The US considers ramping up military intervention in Yemen war

The Pentagon is said to be considering escalating its direct intervention in support of the Saudi campaign in the Yemen war against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Up until now, the US has used drones and commandos to fight Al Qaeda in Yemen (US Navy SEAL William Owens was killed in one such raid in January) as well as providing aerial refueling of the Saudi warplanes for air strikes.. Defense Secretary James Mattis is asking for Obama administration’s restrictions to be removed to enable the US military to support Saudi-led operations against the Houthis with surveillance, intelligence, refueling and operational planning and assistance.