US Senate adopts unanimous resolution hold the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for the killing of Khashoggi as well as stopping US support for the war in Yemen

The US Senate on Thursday backed a draft resolution holding Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The Senate unanimously approved the draft resolution, which says bin Salman is responsible for Khashoggi’s death and stresses the need for Saudi authorities to hold all those involved in the crime accountable.

The draft resolution was voted minutes after the Senate adopted another resolution calling on Trump’s administration to stop all military support for the operations of the Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen.

The US Senate vote was backed by 56 votes and 41 objections to ending military support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, in a move that is a rebuke to President Trump’s support for Saudi Arabia.

Interestingly, a number of Republican members joined the Democrats in support of the bill, which is still largely symbolic, after the House of Representatives postponed this week any similar bills until January when the Democrats take control of the House of Representatives.

The bill follows a decision blaming the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in contrast to President Trump, who has avoided accusing the crown prince.

Senator Bernie Sanders, who was the driving force behind the bill, called the monarchy in Saudi Arabia a “despotic regime”.

Some opponents of the draft law on Yemen said withdrawing support for Saudi Arabia would further embolden Iran.

Sanders tweeted: “We must tell Saudi Arabia that the United States will not support the role of its authoritarian regime in the terrible war in Yemen”.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a traditional ally of Trump, said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia “will never have a relationship with the US Senate unless things change”.