Reuters: Exclusive: U.S. expands intelligence sharing with Saudis in Yemen operation
(Reuters) - The United States is expanding its intelligence-sharing with Saudi Arabia to provide more information about potential targets in the kingdom's air campaign against Houthi militias in Yemen, U.S. officials told Reuters.
The stepped-up assistance comes as two weeks of relentless air strikes by the Saudis and other Gulf Arab allies have largely failed to halt advances by the Iran-linked Houthi forces.
The U.S. officials said the expanded assistance includes sensitive intelligence data that will allow the Saudis to better review the kingdom's targets in fighting that has killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands since March.
"We have opened up the aperture a bit wider with what we are sharing with our Saudi partners," said one U.S. official.
WNU Editor: The U.S. is already providing refueling assistance .... US Prepared To Provide Saudi Refueling (Defense News) .... as well as expediting arms shipments .... Expedited Weapons Deliveries to Saudi Arabia Signal Deepening U.S. Involvement (New York Times). Providing intelligence is probably something that the U.S. has been providing since day one .... via through drones and satellites .... but the big question still remains .... will the U.S. join the air campaign, and will U.S. troops (probably special forces) end up on Yemeni soil fighting the Houthis and their allies.
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