Leak: UAE attempted to influence Obama policy in Yemen

The UAE Ambassador to the US, Yousef Al-Otaiba, tried to influence former American President Barack Obama’s policy in Yemen, the Intercept newspaper reported.

Leaked emails from Al-Otaibi appear to show that the Emirati diplomat tried to convince Robert Malley, then a top Middle East advisor to Obama, that human rights reporting which was critical of the US-backed bombing coalition in Yemen was unfairly biased.

During the exchange, which took place in June 2016, Malley responded in disbelief: “Seriously? Believing in human rights is a bias?”

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The former US official confirmed the authenticity of the emails to the Intercept but declined to comment further, the organisation said.

The UAE is a key member of the Saudi-led coalition in the Yemen war, which has killed thousands of people, destroyed hospitals, food sources and water infrastructure, and left seven million people on the brink of starvation.