The United States reiterated its “
strategic defense partnership
” with Saudi Arabia amid mounting attacks on the kingdom by Yemeni Houthi rebels, backed by Iran.
Read also: Saudi Arabia says it has foiled a new attack by Yemeni rebels
US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin condemned the attacks in a phone conversation Thursday with his Saudi counterpart Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the official SPA news agency and a statement from the US ministry.
This interview came after the announcement from the White House indicating that President Joe Biden wanted to "
recalibrate
" Washington's relationship with Riyadh and, to do this, change the interlocutor: King Salman rather than the Crown Prince, who was privileged under President Donald Trump.
Joe Biden has yet to speak with Saudi leaders since taking office almost a month ago.
Two weeks after his swearing in, he announced the end of US support for the Saudi military campaign in Yemen, saying it had "
created a humanitarian and strategic catastrophe
."
Another change in posture: Washington has decided to remove the Houthis from its blacklist of "
terrorist organizations
".
This designation in extremis by the Trump administration was decried by humanitarian organizations because it risked hindering the delivery of aid in the vast territories controlled by these rebels.
Read also: Yemen: the Biden administration will erase the Houthis from the American blacklist of terrorist groups on Tuesday
Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions more have been displaced during the war in Yemen which has caused, according to the UN, the world's most serious humanitarian disaster.
