McCain, Reed seek answers from Pentagon on Yemen torture allegations

The chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee are asking Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to look into allegations that U.S. officials were aware of torture being conducted by United Arab Emirates forces in Yemen.

In a June 22 letter to Mattis, Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Jack Reed (D-RI) request the defense secretary investigate allegations reported by the Associated Press that hundreds of prisoners detained in the effort to counter Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula have been tortured at the hands of Emirati and Yemeni forces.

"We request that you direct an immediate review of the facts and circumstances related to these alleged abuses, including U.S. support to the Emirati and Yemeni partner forces that were purportedly involved," the letter states. "We also request that you conduct a thorough assessment of what, if anything, U.S. forces knew about these alleged abuses or subsequently learned about them. The Senate Armed Services Committee would like to receive a briefing on your findings as soon as possible."

The AP report states senior American defense officials have acknowledged U.S. forces have been involved in interrogation of detainees in Yemen, but denied participation in or knowledge of any torture.