Members of Congress on Monday sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to delay a proposed $1.15 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. The letter, led by Rep. Ted W. Lieu (D-Calif.), was signed by 64 members and cited “concerns about Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen.” Calling for “greater efforts to avoid civilian casualties,” the congressional leaders detailed the toll of the war on the population: “unlawful airstrikes” targeting hospitals and schools, the deaths of 3,704 civilians, and the displacement of 83 percent of the Yemeni population. The lawmakers asked the president to postpone the arms deal “so that the people’s representatives in Congress can give these issues the full deliberation they deserve.” (See also: US Continues Support for Saudi Offensive in Yemen)
In the wake of a major Chinese military shakeup, the head of U.S. Space Command warned of China’s “breathtakingly fast” advances in space during visits to Japan and South Korea. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting’s trip to the Indo-Pacific is his first overseas visit since taking command of SPACECOM in January.