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Yemen crisis: US troops withdrawing from air base | Yemen crisis: US troops withdrawing from air base |
(35 minutes later) | |
The United States is evacuating its remaining military personnel from Yemen because of the deteriorating security situation, US officials have confirmed. | The United States is evacuating its remaining military personnel from Yemen because of the deteriorating security situation, US officials have confirmed. |
On Saturday, Yemeni officials said about 100 US troops were leaving an air base near a southern city that was stormed by al-Qaeda fighters on Friday. | On Saturday, Yemeni officials said about 100 US troops were leaving an air base near a southern city that was stormed by al-Qaeda fighters on Friday. |
There has been mounting violence by rival armed groups in Yemen, including Houthi rebels, al-Qaeda and IS. | There has been mounting violence by rival armed groups in Yemen, including Houthi rebels, al-Qaeda and IS. |
The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on Yemen on Sunday. | The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on Yemen on Sunday. |
It was requested by Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, who fled to the southern port city of Aden after the capital was taken over by Houthis last month. | It was requested by Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, who fled to the southern port city of Aden after the capital was taken over by Houthis last month. |
In a letter sent to the UN, President Hadi called for an "urgent intervention" to stop the aggression "that is aimed at undermining the legitimate authority", according to Reuters news agency. | In a letter sent to the UN, President Hadi called for an "urgent intervention" to stop the aggression "that is aimed at undermining the legitimate authority", according to Reuters news agency. |
US pulls out | US pulls out |
Late on Saturday, US state department spokesman Jeff Rathke said: "Due to the deteriorating security situation in Yemen, the US government has temporarily relocated its remaining personnel out of Yemen." | |
The US withdrawal from the al-Anad air base comes after an offensive by al-Qaeda fighters on the nearby city of al-Houta. | The US withdrawal from the al-Anad air base comes after an offensive by al-Qaeda fighters on the nearby city of al-Houta. |
The militants were later pushed out of the city by Yemen's armed forces, officials said. | The militants were later pushed out of the city by Yemen's armed forces, officials said. |
The US military personnel at the base, including some special forces, had been training Yemeni fighters to support their fight against al-Qaeda. | The US military personnel at the base, including some special forces, had been training Yemeni fighters to support their fight against al-Qaeda. |
The US closed its embassy in Sanaa in February after Houthi rebels took over the city. | The US closed its embassy in Sanaa in February after Houthi rebels took over the city. |
On Friday, President Hadi demanded that the rebels withdraw from Sanaa in his first televised address since fleeing the city. | On Friday, President Hadi demanded that the rebels withdraw from Sanaa in his first televised address since fleeing the city. |
Soon after Mr Hadi spoke, the Houthis called for a general mobilisation of their forces against those loyal to the president. | 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 group. | Yemen is the base of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a powerful offshoot of the jihadist group. |
However, IS is also gaining ground after setting up a base there in November. The group claimed a suicide attack on two Houthi mosques on Friday in the capital, Sanaa. | However, IS is also gaining ground after setting up a base there in November. The group claimed a suicide attack on two Houthi mosques on Friday in the capital, Sanaa. |
Both al-Qaeda and IS are Sunni groups and consider the Shia Muslim Houthis to be heretics. | Both al-Qaeda and IS are Sunni groups and consider the Shia Muslim Houthis to be heretics. |