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| U.S. and Britain Withdraw Personnel From Yemen | |
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| 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with Washington ordering “nonemergency” government personnel to leave and the Foreign Office in London saying it has withdrawn its diplomatic staff in the capital Sana “due to increased security concerns.” | 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with Washington ordering “nonemergency” government personnel to leave and the Foreign Office in London saying it has withdrawn its diplomatic staff in the capital Sana “due to increased security concerns.”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 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 were issued several hours after Yemeni military officials said that at least four men, suspected of being Al Qaeda members, were killed in what was described as an American drone strike in the eastern Marib region of Yemen early on Tuesday. | The British and American warnings were issued several hours after Yemeni military officials said that at least four men, suspected of being Al Qaeda members, were killed in what was described as an American drone strike in the eastern Marib region of Yemen early on Tuesday. |
| The officials, who spoke in return for anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters, said a Yemeni military helicopter was shot down later by militants in the same area. There was no immediate word on casualties. | The officials, who spoke in return for anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters, said a Yemeni military helicopter was shot down later by militants in the same area. There was no immediate word on casualties. |
| The State Department warned American 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 American 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 American 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 American 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. |
| Separately, the Pentagon press secretary, George Little, said Tuesday that, in response to a request from the State Department, "early this morning the U.S. Air Force transported personnel out of Sana, Yemen, as part of the reduction” in personnel. | Separately, the Pentagon press secretary, George Little, said Tuesday that, in response to a request from the State Department, "early this morning the U.S. Air Force transported personnel out of Sana, Yemen, as part of the reduction” in personnel. |
| But, he said, the Defense Department “continues to have personnel on the ground in Yemen to support the U.S. State Department and monitor the security situation.” | But, he said, the Defense Department “continues to have personnel on the ground in Yemen to support the U.S. State Department and monitor the security situation.” |
| The statements 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 Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, based in Yemen. 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 statements 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 Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, based in Yemen. 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. |
| In recent years, the Al Qaeda affiliate in poverty-stricken Yemen has plotted a number of potentially spectacular attacks including an attempt to blow up a trans-Atlantic jet over Detroit on Dec. 25, 2009, using explosives sewn into an attacker’s underwear. Months earlier, an attacker with a bomb surgically implanted in his body tried to kill the Saudi intelligence chief. | In recent years, the Al Qaeda affiliate in poverty-stricken Yemen has plotted a number of potentially spectacular attacks including an attempt to blow up a trans-Atlantic jet over Detroit on Dec. 25, 2009, using explosives sewn into an attacker’s underwear. Months earlier, an attacker with a bomb surgically implanted in his body tried to kill the Saudi intelligence chief. |
| American officials have identified the bomb-builder in both cases as Ibrahim al-Asiri, an Al Qeada leader in Yemen whom the Obama administration has been trying to kill as part of a campaign using armed drones. But it was not clear if the reported attack on Tuesday was part of that same operation. | American officials have identified the bomb-builder in both cases as Ibrahim al-Asiri, an Al Qeada leader in Yemen whom the Obama administration has been trying to kill as part of a campaign using armed drones. But it was not clear if the reported attack on Tuesday was part of that same operation. |
Eric Schmitt contributed reporting from Washington, and Nasser Arrabyee contributed reporting from Sana, Yemen. | Eric Schmitt contributed reporting from Washington, and Nasser Arrabyee contributed reporting from Sana, Yemen. |