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U.S. and Britain Withdraw Personnel from Yemen U.S. and Britain Withdraw Personnel from Yemen
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — After days of alarms and embassy lockdowns, the United States and Britain on Tuesday stepped up security precautions in Yemen, with Washington ordering “nonemergency” government personnel to leave and the Foreign Office in London saying it has withdrawn its diplomatic staff in the capital Sana “due to increased security concerns.” The United States also urged its citizens living in Yemen to depart immediately. LONDON — After days of alarms and embassy lockdowns, the United States and Britain on Tuesday stepped up security precautions in Yemen, with Washington ordering “nonemergency” government personnel to leave and the Foreign Office in London saying it has withdrawn its diplomatic staff in the capital Sana “due to increased security concerns.”
The United States also urged its citizens living in Yemen to depart immediately. Neither the American nor British authorities said how many employees were affected by the decision to withdraw personnel.
The measures came a day after officials in Washington said the United States had intercepted electronic communications in which the head of Al Qaeda ordered the leader of the group’s affiliate in Yemen to carry out an attack as early as this past Sunday.The measures came a day after officials in Washington said the United States had intercepted electronic communications in which the head of Al Qaeda ordered the leader of the group’s affiliate in Yemen to carry out an attack as early as this past Sunday.
Consequently the Obama administration decided last week to close nearly two dozen diplomatic missions and issue a worldwide travel alert.Consequently the Obama administration decided last week to close nearly two dozen diplomatic missions and issue a worldwide travel alert.
The British and American warnings came hours after news reports that at least four men, suspected of being Al Qaeda members, were killed in what local tribal leaders and Yemeni officials said was an American drone strike in central Yemen early on Tuesday. The drone fired a missile at a car carrying the four men in Marib Province, setting it on fire and killing its occupants, The Associated Press quoted Yemeni officials as saying.The British and American warnings came hours after news reports that at least four men, suspected of being Al Qaeda members, were killed in what local tribal leaders and Yemeni officials said was an American drone strike in central Yemen early on Tuesday. The drone fired a missile at a car carrying the four men in Marib Province, setting it on fire and killing its occupants, The Associated Press quoted Yemeni officials as saying.
The State Department warned United States citizens of “the high security threat level in Yemen due to terrorist activities and civil unrest.” It urged Americans “to defer travel to Yemen and those U.S. citizens currently living in Yemen to depart immediately.”The State Department warned United States citizens of “the high security threat level in Yemen due to terrorist activities and civil unrest.” It urged Americans “to defer travel to Yemen and those U.S. citizens currently living in Yemen to depart immediately.”
In London, a spokesman for the Foreign Office, who sought anonymity under departmental rules, said: “Due to increased security concerns, we have withdrawn all staff today in the British Embassy in Sana, and the Embassy will remain closed until staff are able to return. We have closed the Embassy because we assess there is an increased threat.” The spokesman declined to discuss the specific nature of the threat. In London, a spokesman for the Foreign Office, who sought anonymity under departmental rules, said: “Due to increased security concerns, we have withdrawn all staff today in the British Embassy in Sana, and the embassy will remain closed until staff are able to return. We have closed the embassy because we assess there is an increased threat.” The spokesman declined to discuss the specific nature of the threat.
In its statement, the State Department said that on Aug. 6 it had ordered all nonemergency U.S. government personnel to leave Yemen because of the continued potential for terrorist attacks.In its statement, the State Department said that on Aug. 6 it had ordered all nonemergency U.S. government personnel to leave Yemen because of the continued potential for terrorist attacks.
“The security threat level in Yemen is extremely high,” the statement said. “In September 2012, a mob attacked the U.S. Embassy compound. Demonstrations continue to take place in various parts of the country and may quickly escalate and turn violent. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid areas of demonstrations, and to exercise extreme caution if within the vicinity of a demonstration.”“The security threat level in Yemen is extremely high,” the statement said. “In September 2012, a mob attacked the U.S. Embassy compound. Demonstrations continue to take place in various parts of the country and may quickly escalate and turn violent. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid areas of demonstrations, and to exercise extreme caution if within the vicinity of a demonstration.”
“Terrorist organizations, including Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, continue to be active throughout Yemen. The U.S. government remains highly concerned about possible attacks on U.S. citizens (whether visiting or residing in Yemen), and U.S. facilities, businesses, and perceived U.S. and Western interests,” it added.“Terrorist organizations, including Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, continue to be active throughout Yemen. The U.S. government remains highly concerned about possible attacks on U.S. citizens (whether visiting or residing in Yemen), and U.S. facilities, businesses, and perceived U.S. and Western interests,” it added.
The statement followed what American officials said were intercepted conversations last week between Ayman al-Zawahri, who succeeded Osama bin Laden as the head of Al Qaeda, and Nasser al-Wuhayshi, the head of the Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The intercepts revealed what American intelligence officials and lawmakers have described as one of the most serious plots against American and Western interests since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.The statement followed what American officials said were intercepted conversations last week between Ayman al-Zawahri, who succeeded Osama bin Laden as the head of Al Qaeda, and Nasser al-Wuhayshi, the head of the Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The intercepts revealed what American intelligence officials and lawmakers have described as one of the most serious plots against American and Western interests since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
The security alert spread to some of the United States’ allies in Europe. Britain and France closed their embassies in Yemen and said Monday that they had extended the shutdown until at least Thursday. Washington also announced that its embassy would stay shut until after the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, also expected on Thursday in most places. The German mission in Yemen was closed Monday, while Norway shut its embassies in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.The security alert spread to some of the United States’ allies in Europe. Britain and France closed their embassies in Yemen and said Monday that they had extended the shutdown until at least Thursday. Washington also announced that its embassy would stay shut until after the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, also expected on Thursday in most places. The German mission in Yemen was closed Monday, while Norway shut its embassies in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.