washington unite state warn saudi arabia concern congress humanitarian situation yemen could constrain u.s. assistance push riyadh allow great access humanitarian aid u.s. official say friday saudi-led military coalition fight iran-aligned arm houthi movement yemen civil war start blockade port month ago saudi arabia intercept missile fire toward capital riyadh yemen although blockade late ease yemen situation remain dire million people brink famine outbreaks cholera diphtheria lead white house take rare step issue two write statements week yemen include one friday call saudi-led coalition help facilitate free flow humanitarian aid critical goods like fuel think mount concern continue humanitarian condition yemen see progress see enough say senior trump administration official speak condition anonymity want see come weeks white house also call houthis allow food medicine fuel distribute accuse political repression brutality yemen war heavy toll civilians long sore point members congress trigger threats block u.s. assistance saudi-led coalition include u.s. refuel coalition jet provision limit u.s. intelligence support senator chris murphy democrat connecticut longtime critic u.s. support yemen campaign cheer trump push humanitarian aid week breath warn u.s. assistance saudis trump administration must continue make clear saudi arabia u.s. support campaign intentionally starve civilians submission murphy say trump administration officials underscore concern congress riyadh want clear saudi officials political environment could constrain us step take ease humanitarian condition yemen official say publicly trump top aid senior saudi officials hail say major improvement u.s.-saudi tie compare relations former president barack obama upset saudis seal nuclear deal arch-foe iran even tie improve however u.s. diplomats intelligence analysts privately express anxiety hawkish action saudi arabia crown prince especially toward yemen lebanon saudi arabia seek contain iranian influence turn saudi arabia unusually public concern president donald trump move recognize jerusalem capital israel trump administration share saudi arabia concern iran emphasize point friday statement white house squarely blame iran islamic revolutionary guard corps partner arm advise enable houthis violent action condemn houthis brutal repression political opponents sanaa friday statement white house spokeswoman sarah sanders say include houthis kill last weekend ali abdullah saleh yemen former president punish switch side yemen three-year civil war kill setback riyadh hop back saleh loyalist army units northern yemen would help close war kill 10,000 people cause one world acute humanitarian crises white house say political negotiations necessary end violence country free malign influence iranian-backed militias iranian-backed houthi militias must allow food medicine fuel distribute throughout areas control rather divert sustain military campaign yemeni people sanders add push yemen aid u.s. warn saudis threats congress