US Air Force tankers are regularly supporting the Saudi-led campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen—a requirement that is expected to stay steady in the near future. Air Mobility Command chief Gen. Carlton Everhart said Wednesday that the service’s tankers are refueling aircraft across the US Central Command region, including Saudi fighters in support of their campaign. US officials have reviewed their support for Saudi Arabia and have expressed concern about reported civilian casualties. The US is extremely careful in its air campaigns, and is sure to “plan, plan, plan” all strikes to avoid civilian casualties, and the US is pressing Saudi Arabia to do the same but it is their campaign, Everhart said.
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.