Wnited States Senate WASHINGTON, DC 20510 May 17, 2018 ‘The Honorable James N. Mattis Secretary of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1000 Dear Secretary Mattis: We write to you regarding an article in the New York Times titled, “Army Special Forces Secretly Help Saudis Combat Threat From Yemen Rebels,” dated May 3, 2018, According to the article, late last year a team of United States Army Green Berets deployed to the Saudi-Yemeni border to train Saudis in border security, help locate Yemini ballistic missile sites, and use surveillance planes to track Houthi weapons. We are concerned that this deployment represents an escalation in the United States’ support for the Saudi intervention in Yemen, support that we, and a number of our Senate colleagues, believe is unauthorized. As you know, eatlier this year we introduced Senate Joint Resolution 54 to direct the removal of United States armed forces from the Saudi-led war against Yemen’s Houthis. In response to S.J.Res. 54, the Acting General Counsel of the Department of Defense, William S, Castle, wrote to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on February 27 to register the Department of Defense’s opposition to the resolution, Mr. Castle made a number of assertions that are at odds with today’s story. Specifically, the New York Times report appears to contradict Mr. Castle’s assertion that the United States is only providing “limited military and intelligence support” and that U.S. personnel are not involved in situations that portend imminent hostilities. Mr. Castle wrote, “With the exception of a defensive strike in October 2016, U.S. forces are not taking direct military action in this Saudi- led effort in Yemen.” If U.S. armed forces are deployed to a border between two warring nations, how could they not be at the risk of involvement in imminent hostilities? ‘Mr. Castle further stated that U.S. military involvement was limited to aerial refueling, intelligence support, and military advice. Nowhere in the letter does Mr. Castle acknowledge that U.S. forces are operating surveillance sorties along the Saudi-Yemeni border nor helping to locate and destroy ‘Yemeni ballistic missiles. Subsequently, on March 14, you followed up with a letter in which you stated: “Our support takes the form of intelligence sharing, military advice, and logistical support, including air-to-air refueling. This non-combat support is focused on improving coalition process and procedures, especially regarding compliance with the law of armed conflict and best practices for reducing the risk of civilian casualties.” In light of today’s Times report that list of support activities now appears incomplete.We have a series of questions on which we seek clarity: + Under what legal and statutory authority are U.S. armed forces operating to defend the Saudi border with Yemen? . Have U.S. ground forces or surveillance planes crossed into Yemeni territory or air space during border interdiction activities? . Are U.S. forces aiding in the destruction of Houthi-controlled missile sites? . In your view, does this represent an increased level of U.S. intervention in the Saudi- ‘Yemen civil war? . ‘Can you detail what specific activities U.S. personnel are involved in on the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen? . Have U.S. forces provided assistance for any coalition attacks that resulted in the death of Yemeni civilians? + Are USS. ground forces operating near any areas of active conflict on the Saudi border, where Houthi forces have regularly conducted attacks in response to Saudi military operations? + What is the timeframe of the mission? + Has the Department of Defense accurately reported these activities to Congress as required by Section 4 of the War Powers Resolution? . Do you consider defending the Saudi border a vital U.S. national interest? We also ask that you and appropriate Joint and Interagency staff return to the Hill for a closed briefing at the TS/ SCI level within the next 30 days to brief us on this matter, as well as any other relevant activities that have occurred since the May 3 article was published. We very much appreciate your timely attention to this matter. Sincerely, Unitef/Spates United States Senator CHRISPOPHER’S. mony J United States Senator