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 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.
"We are helping them get a better sense of the battlefield and the
state of play with the Houthi forces. We are also helping identify
'no strike' areas they should avoid" to minimize any civilian
casualties, the official said.
U.S. ally Saudi Arabia is concerned that the violence could spill
over the border it shares with Yemen, and is also worried about the
influence of Shi'ite Iran, which has denied Saudi allegations it has
provided direct military support to the Houthis.
The United States, whose fight against al Qaeda militants in Yemen
has been dealt a heavy setback by the Houthi takeover of the capital
Sanaa and ousting of the previous government, has avoided a direct
role in the worsening conflict. It will still stop short of picking
targets for the Saudis, said the four U.S. officials, who spoke on
condition of anonymity.
 But Washington has come under pressure to do more to assist the
alliance led by Saudi Arabia, which fears the Houthi advance is
expanding the influence of arch foe Iran to its border.
Saudi concerns of growing Iranian influence have also been
heightened by nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers that
could result in a deal by June 30 removing punishing sanctions on
the country.
A senior U.S. diplomat said earlier this week that Washington was
speeding up arms supplies and bolstering intelligence sharing with
the Saudi-led alliance. The Pentagon has said it is beginning aerial
refueling of Arab coalition jets – although outside Yemeni airspace.
Until recent days, U.S. intelligence support was limited to
examining Saudi targeting information to try to affirm its accuracy,
U.S. and Saudi officials said.
The U.S. role has now expanded in size and scope, involving more
detailed “vetting” of targeting information prepared by the Saudis,
with a particular interest in helping the Saudis to avoid civilian
casualties, according to the U.S. officials.
The White House and Pentagon would not comment specifically when
asked about expanded intelligence-sharing.
"The United States is providing our partners with necessary and
timely intelligence to defend Saudi Arabia and respond to other
efforts to support the legitimate government of Yemen," said
Alistair Baskey, a White House spokesman.
LEGAL BARRIERS
Aid groups have said the Saudi strikes, which began March 25, have
caused many civilian deaths, including a March 30 attack on a
Houthi-controlled refugee camp in northern Yemen that the
International Organization for Migration said killed 40 people.
Senior Saudi officials have blamed such incidents on the Houthis
themselves.
The Saudi-led air campaign is aimed at rolling back territorial
gains by the Houthis and reinstalling Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu
Mansour Hadi, who has fled the country.
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While the White House announced U.S. intelligence support soon after
the operation began, American officials said that data sharing had
been extremely minimal in the campaign's early days. That is partly
due to legal barriers, the officials said.
While the United States has used lethal force against an al Qaeda
offshoot in Yemen, it does not consider itself at war with the
Houthis. Some officials said the U.S. administration's analysis is
that it lacks the ability under international and U.S. law to
collaborate with the Saudis in an offensive against the Houthis.
Baskey said that U.S. actions were "fully consistent with applicable
domestic and international legal requirements."
Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke in general terms
about the expanded cooperation during a Monday visit to Riyadh,
without disclosing specifics.
"Saudi Arabia is sending a strong message to the Houthis and their
allies that they cannot overrun Yemen by force," Blinken said.
"As part of that effort, we have expedited weapons deliveries, we
have increased our intelligence sharing, and we have established a
joint coordination planning cell in the Saudi operation center," he
added.
The United States has sent a 20-member military coordination team to
interact with the Gulf allies, led by Marine Major General Carl
Mundy. Assigning a two-star general will facilitate interactions
with other high-ranking officials from other nations, U.S. officials
said.
The United States this week started daily air-to-air refueling
flights of fighter jets from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates.
But even with its refueling flights, the United States is exhibiting
caution -- carrying out the flights outside Yemeni airspace and
requesting financial reimbursement from allies.
It is still unclear how the United States plans to accelerate the
delivery of bombs and guidance kits to its allies.
One person familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of
anonymity, said the United States might accelerate shipments to the
United Arab Emirates, which could then also help resupply Saudi
Arabia.
(Editing by Stuart Grudgings)
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