US military sends $331mn bill to Saudis, UAE after refueling ‘accounting error’
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A KC-135 Stratotanker, from the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., flies in the Thunder Over Louisville air show in Louisville, Ky., April 21, 2018. The Kentucky Air National Guard once again served as the base of operations for all military aircraft, providing essential maintenance and logistical support. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Dale Greer)
WASHINGTON: The US military is seeking a $331 million reimbursement from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates after discovering it failed to properly charge the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen for aerial refueling services due to an “accounting error,” the Pentagon said Thursday.
While the US decided last month that it would no longer refuel Saudi aircraft conducting strike missions over Yemen, the Pentagon still expects to be compensated for the outstanding costs accrued between March 2015 and November of this year, CNN reported.
Specifically, the US is working to recoup approximately $36.8 million for fuel and $294.3 million for flight hours, according to Pentagon spokesperson Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich, who noted that partners have been individually notified about how much they owe.
“US Central Command reviewed its records and found errors in accounting where we failed to charge the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) adequately for fuel and refueling services. USCENTCOM calculated the correct charges, and Department of Defense is in the process of seeking reimbursement,” she said in a statement to CNN.
It was a mistake that was first reported last week by The Atlantic and uncovered during a probe by Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, who said Thursday he is encouraged that the Pentagon is now taking steps to recover the funds for US taxpayers.
“This is good news for US taxpayers and underscores the need for strong oversight of the Department of Defense. The American people should not be forced to bear these costs and I am encouraged DOD is taking steps to get full reimbursement,” Reed said in a statement.
But while Reed commended the Pentagon for correcting its accounting mistake, he also made clear that the larger issue remains the ongoing conflict in Yemen between the coalition and Houthi rebels that has “resulted in the largest humanitarian disaster facing the world in recent memory.”
“The Trump Administration and international community must capitalize on the progress that has been made during the Yemen peace talks in Sweden,” Reed said in a statement. “It must be made clear to both the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis that there is no military solution to this conflict and the time has come to reach a sustainable negotiated settlement.”
