With Yemen teetering on the brink of a civil war, the United States has ordered the evacuation of all its personnel from the country, including the military’s 100-odd remaining Special Operations forces. “Due to the deteriorating security situation in Yemen, the US Government has temporarily relocated its remaining personnel out of Yemen,” the State Department said, adding: “We have informed President Hadi of this step as part of our close coordination with the Yemeni government.”
Announcing the decision a day after a series of suicide bombings that killed 142 people in Sanaa, the department said the US would continue to engage the Yemeni people and the international community to strongly support Yemen’s political transition. Stressing that the US would continue to actively monitor terrorist threats emanating from Yemen, the statement noted: “As we have in the past, we will take action to disrupt continuing, imminent threats to the United States and our citizens.”
“There is no military solution to Yemen’s current crisis. We urge the immediate cessation of all unilateral and offensive military actions. We join all of the other members of the Security Council in underscoring that President Hadi is the legitimate authority in Yemen and re-emphasize our support for his efforts to lead Yemen through crisis,” the statement said, asking the Houthis, former President Ali Abdallah Salih and their allies to stop their violent incitement.