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US troops 'withdraw from Yemen' | US troops 'withdraw from Yemen' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The US is withdrawing its military personal from a base in Yemen because of increasing insecurity there, Yemeni sources say. | |
About 100 troops, including special forces commandos, are leaving al-Anad air base near the southern city of al-Houta, the officials said. | |
The city was stormed by al-Qaeda fighters on Friday, although they were later driven out by the Yemeni army. | The city was stormed by al-Qaeda fighters on Friday, although they were later driven out by the Yemeni army. |
The US military has not confirmed the evacuation. | The US military has not confirmed the evacuation. |
It comes a day after suicide bombers killed at least 137 people in the capital Sanaa. Militants allied to Islamic State (IS) said they carried out the attack. | It comes a day after suicide bombers killed at least 137 people in the capital Sanaa. Militants allied to Islamic State (IS) said they carried out the attack. |
There are mounting tensions between various powerful, armed elements in Yemen, including Houthi rebels, al-Qaeda and IS. | |
Driven back | Driven back |
US troops at al-Anad air base have been training Yemeni fighters to launch attacks against al-Qaeda operatives. | |
On Friday, al-Qaeda fighters took control of al-Houta, near to the airbase. But the militants were later driven back by the army. | |
The US closed its embassy in Sanaa in February after Houthi rebel forces took over the city. | The US closed its embassy in Sanaa in February after Houthi rebel forces took over the city. |
In other developments, Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi made his first television address since fleeing Sanaa last month, after Houthi rebels took over the city and put him under house arrest. | |
He demanded that Houthi rebels withdraw from the capital but also urged all parties to engage in peace talks. | |
He added that he would "raise Yemen's flag" in the rebel group's heartlands in the north. | |
Soon after Mr Hadi spoke, the Houthis called for a general mobilisation of their forces against those loyal to the president. | |
Yemen is the base of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a powerful offshoot of the jihadist militant group. | Yemen is the base of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a powerful offshoot of the jihadist militant group. |
However, IS is also gaining ground in the country, after setting up a base in Yemen in November, | However, IS is also gaining ground in the country, after setting up a base in Yemen in November, |