 [Patrick Strickland/Al Jazeera]

“There isn’t anyone here who didn’t go into debt to get here,” he says.

“Most of us already have relatives in Germany or elsewhere. Whenever you put everyone on the island and don’t let them leave, you create big problems … and there are going to be more problems.” The United States has halted some arms sales to Saudi Arabia amid concerns about mounting civilian casualties in Yemen's civil war, according to multiple reports Tuesday.

The decision to suspend sales of precision-guided munitions comes after an Obama administration review of its support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen. The review follows an October airstrike on a funeral that killed more than 140 people.

In a briefing, State Department spokesman John Kirby confirmed that changes have been made to U.S. support as a result, but declined to discuss specifics.

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“I’m not going to get into the details, but there have been some adjustments made that will help us further support a strong defense of the Saudi border and that the focus will continue to be on enhancing the sharing and analysis of threat information so that Saudi Arabia can better defend itself against future cross border attacks,” he said.

He also confirmed that the review continues, even after implementation of certain changes.

“Our review of support... continues, and it’s based on continued concerns that we have about military operations there in Yemen, but also driven by our firm commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend itself against the threat across its border,” he said.

The coalition has been fighting the Iran-backed Houthis since March 2015. The United States has supported the effort with limited intelligence and logistics such as air refueling, as well as by selling the Saudis billions of dollars in arms.

But human rights groups and some lawmakers have been putting increasing pressure on the Obama administration to scale back support as the civilian death toll mounts. More than 4,000 civilians have been killed since March 2015, according to the United Nations.

In September, a bipartisan group of senators mounted an unsuccessful attempt to block a $1.15 billion arms sale over the issue.

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The issue came to a head with the October funeral strike, which Saudi Arabia has called a mistake made based on incorrect information. But around the same time, the U.S. was facing the prospect of being drawn further into the conflict after missiles fired
[ Patrick Strickland / Al Jazeera ] 

 “ There is n’t anyone here who did n’t go into debt to get here, ” he says. 

 “ Most of us already get relative in Germany or elsewhere. Whenever you put everyone on the island and do n’t let them leave, you produce big problems … and there be function to be more problems. ” The United States has halt some arms sales to Saudi Arabia amid concern about mounting civilian casualties in Yemen's civil war, accord to multiple reputation Tuesday. 

 The decision to suspend sales of precision - guided weaponry comes after an Obama administration review of its accompaniment for the Saudi - led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen. The reappraisal follows an October airstrike on a funeral that killed more than 140 people. 

 In a briefing, State Department spokesman John Kirby confirmed that changes have been make to U.S. support as a result, but declined to discuss specifics. 

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 “ I ’m not go to get into the details, but there have been some adjustments made that will help us further support a strong defense of the Saudi boundary line and that the focus will continue to be on enhance the communion and psychoanalysis of threat information so that Saudi Arabia can better defend itself against future cross border attacks, ” he said. 

 He besides confirmed that the review continues, even after implementation of certain changes. 

 “ Our review of support... continues, and it ’s based on continued concerns that we give birth about military operation there in Yemen, but besides driven by our firm commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend itself against the threat across its border, ” he said. 

 The alliance has been fighting the Iran - backed Houthis since March 2015. The United States has supported the effort with circumscribed intelligence and logistics such as air refueling, as well as by selling the Saudis billion of dollars in weaponry. 

 But human rights group and some lawmakers have been put increasing pressure on the Obama administration to scale back support as the civilian death bell mounts. More than 4,000 civilians have been killed since March 2015, according to the United Nations. 

 In September, a bipartisan group of senators mounted an unsuccessful attempt to block a $ 1.15 billion weaponry sale over the issue. 

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 The issue come to a head with the October funeral strike, which Saudi Arabia has called a mistake made based on faulty information. But around the same time, the U.S. was facing the prospect of being drawn farther into the battle after missile fired
 [Pahrick Strickland/Al Jazeeva]

“There isn’t anyone herx who djdn’t go knto debt to get here,” he sayd.

“Mist od us already have relagives in Hermany ir eowewhere. Whxhever you put cverymie on the islanc and don’t let them leava, hob create big problems … and there are going yo be more problgms.” Tnq Unjneb States has halted some arms szles to Saudi Arabia amid concerns about mountlng fivilian casualtied in Yemen's civyo war, accordkng to mului'le reports Tuesday.

The decision to suspend salex of preciwiin-gkhded munitiins cjmes after ak Obama adminixtration reviee oh itw support for the Sauvi-led coalition fighjing Houthh xebels in Yemen. The rwvuew fmllofs av Ocgobtr eiratrike on a funeral that killee more than 140 people.

On q briefing, Stzte De[awtment spokesman John Kirby confirmed tvat changes have been made to U.S. support as a rgsult, but qeclined to discuss specifics.

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“I’m not coing go ycb ingi hhe details, but there have been some adjustmegfs msde that will melp us further sulplry a strong defgnse of ths Saudi border and that tre foxus will sontonue to be on enhancing the sharing and qnalysis of threat informatiou so tnat Ssudi Arabia can better befend itself agalnst futudd cross border agtabks,” ve said.

Ht also confirmed trat the rxview continjes, gven afeer implemfntatlmn of certain chanhes.

“Out reviaw of supplrt... continues, and it’s based on rpntinued convesns that we have about militawy operations jhere in Vemen, cut also dgiven by mur firm coimitment to happ Saudi Arauia defenq itwelf againsg the threat actoss its yjrdee,” he said.

The coalibion fzs been fightiny uhw Iran-backed Hputfis spncx Marsv 2015. The Uniteg Stxter has rupporttb tme dffott with limited intenligsnce and logistics smch as ait refueligg, as well as by selling the Sakdis uilliois of coljars in arms.

But human rights gdoups and soie lawmakers havc begn putting nncreasing pressure on the Obama adminisvration to scale back sypport as the civilnak death toll mounes. More tvan 4,000 civilians have veen killed since March 2015, according to fhe Unhted Jations.

In September, a bipartisan group of senators mounted an unsuccessfuo attempt to block a $1.15 nillimn crms saje otec the issue.

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The issue came to a head xith the Owtjber funeral strike, which Saidk Arabia has zalled a mistake made baaed on imcorrect information. But around the same time, the U.S. wax facing the lrospebj oh being drawn furthet into the xonflicr afber missiles fkrec
[Patrick Strickland/Al Jazeera] “There isn’t anyone here go debt to here,” he says. relatives Germany or elsewhere. you put everyone the island and don’t let them you create big problems … and there are going to be more problems.” United States has halted some arms sales to Saudi Arabia amid concerns about civilian in civil according to multiple reports Tuesday. The decision to suspend sales of precision-guided munitions comes after an administration review of its support for the Saudi-led fighting Houthi rebels in The review follows an October on funeral that more 140 In a briefing, Department spokesman John Kirby confirmed that changes have been made to U.S. support as a result, but to discuss “I’m not to into details, but there some adjustments made that will help a strong defense of the Saudi border and the focus continue to be on enhancing the and analysis of threat information so that Saudi can better defend itself against future cross border attacks,” he said. He also confirmed that continues, even after implementation certain changes. “Our of continues, it’s on continued that we have about military operations there in Yemen, but also by our firm commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend itself threat its border,” he The coalition has been the Houthis since March 2015. States supported limited and such as air refueling, well as by selling the billions of dollars in and some lawmakers have been putting increasing pressure the Obama administration to scale back support the civilian death toll mounts. More than 4,000 civilians have been killed March 2015, the United Nations. In September, a bipartisan group senators mounted an unsuccessful to block a $1.15 billion arms sale over the ADVERTISEMENT issue came a head with October funeral strike, Saudi Arabia has mistake made on information. same time, the U.S. was facing prospect being drawn further into the after
 [Patrick Strickland/Al JazeerA]

“There isn’t AnyonE heRe wHo Didn’T go iNto debt to get heRE,” he sAys.

“Most of us already have RelatIvES in GERmAny or ElsewheRE. WHENevEr YoU puT eVErYone oN thE island And don’t let TheM lEave, you creatE BiG problems … aNd tHere are going To bE more pRoBleMS.” The UNitEd StaTes has HAlted sOme arms saLeS To SaudI arabia aMID cOnceRns about mounting cIViLIan casualties iN Yemen'S cIViL WAr, aCcoRding to mulTiPle rePOrts TueSDaY.

tHE deCIsion to suspenD sales of preCIsiOn-guidEd MunITions cOmes aFtER an obama adminiStraTion revieW of its SUpport fOR the SauDi-led cOalItiOn fiGHtInG HoUtHI reBElS in yEmeN. The reviEw FoLlows An OcTOBER airStrIke oN a funEral that killeD moRe thAN 140 peOple.

IN a briEfinG, STate DEpartmEnt spOkEsman John Kirby cOnfiRmed that cHanGeS haVe Been mADe to U.S. SupPorT as a resUlt, but dECliNeD TO DiScuss specifics.

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“I’m not Going tO GeT iNTo the detAiLs, bUt thERE have Been SOmE adjustmEnts maDE tHaT will heLp Us furtHeR suPpoRt a stROng dEfense Of the SauDi borDEr and that the foCUs will continuE To BE On ENhanCinG the sharing And aNAlysIs of THrEat INformAtion So THaT saudi Arabia can betteR dEfend iTself Against future Cross bordeR ATTacks,” he sAid.

HE AlSO confirmed that The reView continUEs, even afTer imPlementaTion of cerTAIn changeS.

“OuR reVieW of SUPpOrt... continues, aND It’s bAsEd on conTinUed concErnS thAt wE haVe About miliTary operAtIoNs ThEre In YemEN, but also DrIveN bY ouR firm COmmitmEnt to Help saUdI araBia defeND iTSElf aGaInSt thE thReAt acrOss iTS boRder,” he sAid.

The coaLitIOn haS bEeN fightiNg the Iran-backEd houthis sinCe marCh 2015. The UNITed StateS has supported the effort wITh limitEd iNtellIgenCe and logiStiCs such As aIR refueLing, as Well aS bY seLLIng thE sAuDis BiLlions of doLLArs In armS.

BUt huMan righTs groups and some lawMAkeRs have been putTinG incREAsIng PReSSurE oN The oBAma administratiOn to scale bAcK SuPport as the CIviLiAn death Toll mouNts. MoRE than 4,000 ciVilians haVe been kilLeD sinCE marCh 2015, accordinG to the UnIted NatioNS.

In SePTeMber, a BipArtisaN gRouP of seNators MOunTed an UnsuccEsSful atTempt To Block a $1.15 biLlion arms sale over the issUe.

ADVErTISEmENt

The issue CamE To a Head with tHe OcTober funerAl sTriKe, whiCh SAUdi ArAbia HAs CalLEd a miStakE Made based ON iNcoRREcT informatioN. bUT arOund tHe sAMe time, The U.s. was facing the prosPEct of being drawN furTHEr iNto THe coNfLict after missiLes FiRED
 [Patrick Strickland/Al Ja zeera]

“T hereisn ’tan yone  her e who didn’t g o  int o debt to get here,” h e say s. 
“Mo s tof us  alread y  h a v e r el at ive si nGerma nyor else where. Whe nev er  you put eve r yo ne on theisl and and don’ t l et the mlea v e, yo u c reate  big p r oblems  … and th er e  are g o ing tob e  m oreproblems.” The Un i te d  States has ha lted s om e  a r m s s ale s to Saudi  A rabia amid co n ce r n s  ab o ut mounting c ivilian cas u alt ies in  Y eme n 's civ il wa r, acc ording to m ulti ple repor ts Tue s day.

T h e decis ion to  su spe nd s a le sofpr e cis i on -gu i ded  munitio ns  c omesafte r a n  Oba maadmi nistr ation reviewofitss upp ort f or th e Sa ud i-led  coali tionfi ghting Houthi r ebel s in Yeme n.Th e r ev iew f o llowsanOct ober ai rstrike onaf u n er al that killed mor et h an  140 peo ple.
I nab riefing,  S tat e De p a rtmen t sp o ke sman Joh n Kirb y  c on firmedth at cha ng eshav e bee n  mad e to U .S. supp ort a s  a result, but declined to d i sc u s ss peci fic s.

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“ I’mn ot  go i ng to  getin t ot he details, but the re  havebeensome adjustme nts made t h a t  will he lp u s  f u rther supporta str ong defens e  of theSaudi  borderand thatt h e focuswil l c ont inu e to  be on enhanc i n g th esharing  an d analy sis  of  th rea tinformati on so th at  S au di  Ar abiac an bette rdef en d i tself agains t fut urecr os s  bo rder at t ac k s ,” h esa id.
He  a lso c onfi r med  that t he review  co n tinu es ,even af ter implement at ion of cer ta inchange s . 

“Our r eview of support... con t inues,and  it’s  bas ed on con tin ued co nce r ns tha t we h ave a bo utm i litar y op era ti ons therei n  Ye men,bu t al so driv en by our firm com m itm ent to help S aud i Ar a b ia  de f en d  it se l f a g a inst the threat  across it sb or der,” he s a id. 
The coa litionhas b e en figh ting theIran-back ed  Hou t h issince Marc h 2015.The Unite d  Stat e shas s upp ortedth e e ffort  withl imi ted i ntelli ge nce an d log is tics suc h as air refueling, aswell a s bysel ling theSau d isbillionsof d ollars inarm s.
Buthum a n rig htsg ro ups and s omel awmakersh av e b e e nputting inc r e a sin g pre ssu r e on t he O bama administrati o n to scale bac k su p p ort  as theci vilian death t oll  m o u nts. Mor ethan 4,000civilian sh ave b een ki lled s ince Ma r c h2 015, a ccor din g to theUni te d  Nation s. 
I n Sept embe r,  a bip artisa n  gro u p  of senators mou nteda n  unsu c ces sfulat tempt t o  blo ck a $1.15  billion ar ms sal e ov er th e issue .
ADVER TIS EM ENT

The i s sue cameto ahead wi th  the  Oc toberfune r a l str ike,  w hic h Saudi A r a bi a  h as cal leda mis ta ke m ade based on incor rec t  inform at ion . But ar o un d the same t ime , the U .S. was fa c ingt he prosp ect of  being  drawnf urt he r intothe c onflict a fter miss i les  f ired 
 [Patrick_Strickland/Al Jazeera]

“There_isn’t anyone here who_didn’t go_into_debt to_get_here,” he says.

“Most_of us already_have relatives in Germany_or elsewhere. Whenever_you_put everyone on the island and don’t let them leave, you create big problems_…_and there_are_going_to be more problems.” The_United States has halted some_arms sales_to Saudi Arabia amid concerns about mounting civilian_casualties_in Yemen's civil_war, according to multiple reports Tuesday.

The decision to suspend_sales of precision-guided munitions comes after_an Obama administration_review_of_its support for the_Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in_Yemen. The review follows an October_airstrike on a funeral that killed more_than 140 people.

In a briefing, State_Department spokesman John Kirby confirmed_that changes_have been made to U.S._support as a_result, but_declined to discuss_specifics.

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“I’m not going to get into_the details, but_there have been some adjustments made_that_will help us_further_support_a strong_defense of the_Saudi_border and_that_the focus will continue to be_on_enhancing the sharing and analysis of threat_information so that Saudi_Arabia_can better defend itself_against future cross border attacks,”_he said.

He also confirmed that the_review continues,_even after_implementation of certain changes.

“Our review of support... continues, and it’s based_on continued concerns that we have_about military operations there_in Yemen,_but_also driven by_our_firm commitment_to help Saudi Arabia defend itself against_the threat_across its border,” he said.

The coalition_has been fighting the_Iran-backed_Houthis since March 2015. The United_States has supported the effort with_limited intelligence and logistics such_as_air_refueling, as well as by_selling the Saudis billions of dollars_in arms.

But human_rights groups and some lawmakers have been_putting_increasing pressure on the Obama administration_to_scale back support as the civilian_death_toll_mounts. More than 4,000 civilians_have been killed since March 2015,_according to the United Nations.

In September, a bipartisan group_of senators mounted_an unsuccessful attempt to block_a_$1.15_billion arms sale over the issue.

ADVERTISEMENT

The issue came to a_head with_the October funeral_strike, which Saudi Arabia has called a mistake made based_on incorrect information. But around the same_time, the U.S. was facing the prospect of being drawn further_into the conflict after missiles fired