Blinken defends human rights

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken championed human rights and called for an end to the war in Yemen in his first phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, the State Department said Saturday. 

During their call Friday, the two men "discussed regional security, counterterrorism, and cooperation to deter and defend against attacks" on the Saudi kingdom, department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

"The Secretary outlined several key priorities of the new administration including elevating human rights issues and ending the war in Yemen," he added.

Former president Donald Trump had been accused by critics of having a low regard for human rights in his support for Saudi leaders.

When the US Congress deemed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for the killing of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Trump instead reiterated his support for the prince, explaining that the relationship with and arms sales to key ally Riyadh were more important than anything else.

The phone call comes after Biden announced Thursday he was ending US support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen, where it has been involved since 2015 to shore up the government against the Iran-backed Huthi rebels. Biden also said his administration would end all connected arms sales for ally Saudi Arabia in the war.

Saudi Arabia welcomed the decision noting that US has  commitmented to defend the Kingdom's sovereignty.