Theresa May's Backing for Saudi Assault on Hudaydah Is Another Sickening Blow to the People of Yemen

The news that Saudi-backed government forces have begun an assault on the key Yemeni port of Hudaydah is a disaster for the region and for the 8 million people in the war-torn country that are at risk of starvation. Saudi forces have launched this attack with the backing of the Coalition who are providing air cover in support of a large-scale ground assault.

The port is the main point of entry for aid for people and agencies have warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if it is attacked. A prolonged battle could be catastrophic for millions of civilians who depend on already limited aid.

Donald Trump has been quietly escalating America's role in the Saudi-led war on Yemen, disregarding the huge humanitarian toll and voices in Congress that are trying to rein in the Pentagon's involvement.

He has been supported in this by Theresa May who in March this year rolled out the red carpet for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who has been described as the 'architect of the war.' The UK has licensed PS4.6 billion worth of fighter jets, bombs and missiles to the regime since the intervention began. These are the same aircraft that are flying over Yemen right now, and the same bombs and missiles that are being dropped from the sky.

It is reported that about 10,000 people - two-thirds of them civilians - have been killed in the fighting since March 2015, according to the UN. The vast majority of casualties have been the result of coalition air strikes. The UN's figures do not include those who have died of disease and malnutrition. The conflict and a partial blockade by the coalition have also left 22 million people in need of humanitarian aid and led to a cholera outbreak that is thought to have killed thousands.

Lindsey German, Convenor of the Stop the War Coalition said, "This latest attack by Saudi forces with the full backing of the US and UK governments show the true face of their foreign policy. Trump and his close ally, Theresa May, have been escalating military involvement in Yemen without pushing for a political settlement to the Saudi-led war. Their total support for Saudi Arabia and its allies is making the world's worst humanitarian crisis even more severe. It gives an even greater urgency to those in favour of peace to build the biggest possible protest to Trump when he visits the UK in July"