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WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United States said it is prepared to adjust its support to Saudi-led coalition following reported airstrikes on a funeral hall in Yemen that have killed 82 people, the White House said.
"We are deeply disturbed by reports of today's airstrike on a funeral hall in Yemen, which, if confirmed, would continue the troubling series of attacks striking Yemeni civilians," Ned Price, spokesperson for White House's National Security Council, said in a statement.
"U.S. security cooperation with Saudi Arabia is not a blank check," Price said. "Even as we assist Saudi Arabia regarding the defense of their territorial integrity, we have and will continue to express our serious concerns about the conflict in Yemen and how it has been waged."
Yemen's acting Health Minister Ghazi Ismail said the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on a funeral hall in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Saturday, killing 82 and injured 534. The coalition has denied such accusations.
"In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with U.S. principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict," Price said.
The United States called on the Saudi-led coalition, the Yemeni government, the Houthis and allied forces of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh to commit publicly to an immediate ceasefire and implement it, said the spokesperson.
The Saudi-led coalition, which supports the internationally recognized Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against Shiite Houthi rebels, have been air striking Yemen from March 2015.
Houthi rebels, supported by forces loyal to Saleh, seized Sanaa and some other cities in September 2014, forcing Hadi and his government into exile.
