Saudi-led Yemen air war's high civilian toll unsettles U.S. officials

latimes.com ^ | Brian Bennett, W.J. Hennigan and Alexandra Zavis

[BenLurkin]

Pentagon officials, who pride themselves on the care they take to avoid civilian casualties, have watched with growing alarm as Saudi airstrikes have hit what the U.N. this week called "dozens of public buildings," including hospitals, schools, residential areas and mosques. The U.N. said at least 364 civilians have been killed in the campaign.

Although U.S. personnel don't pick the bombing targets, Americans are working beside Saudi military officials to check the accuracy of target lists in a joint operations center in Riyadh, defense officials said. The Pentagon has expedited delivery of GPS-guided "smart" bomb kits to the Saudi air force to replenish supplies.

The U.S. role was quietly stepped up last week after the civilian death toll rose sharply. The number of U.S. personnel was increased from 12 to 20 in the operations center to help vet targets and to perform more precise calculations of bomb blast areas to help avoid civilian casualties. U.S. reconnaissance drones now send live video feeds of potential targets and of damage after the bombs hit. The Air Force also began daily refueling flights last week to top off Saudi and United Arab Emirates fighter jets in midair, outside Yemen's borders, so they can quickly return to the war.

[ogen hal]

Yet another example of sound policy results from the nobama-biden-clinton-kerry foreign policy brain trust. DOH!

[publius911]

I guess Barack Hussein’s respect for the muslin terrorist’s strategy of using “civilian” shields to protect their war machine, ammo dumps, training camps, etc. isn’t working for the Saudis.
Maybe the free world should allow the Saudis to set the rules of engagement, rather than the White House and the ayatolahs.
The Saudis actually fight to win!

[Jewbacca]

Yep

[Mr. Jeeves]

The rest of the world is wondering what happened to American resolve to win wars.

Walter Cronkite.