U.S. reduces staff at embassy in Yemen amid unrest - official
Source: Reuters
Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:25pm EST
(Reuters) - The United States has further reduced staff at its embassy in Yemen, U.S. officials said on Thursday amid escalating turmoil in the Arab country.
"In response to the changing security situation in Yemen, the United States Embassy in Sanaa has further reduced its American personnel working in Yemen," a senior State Department Official told Reuters.
"While the Embassy remains open and is continuing to operate, we may continue to re-align resources based on the situation on the ground. We will continue to operate as normal, albeit with reduced staff," the official said.
U.S. authorities have made clear they want to avoid shutting the compound, which is important for counterterrorism cooperation with Yemeni security forces in the fight against a powerful al Qaeda branch based in the country.
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Both its president and government are reported to have resigned amid a stand-off with Shia rebels, the Houthis, who have taken control of the capital.
The army has all but melted away but the Sunni tribes, encouraged by al-Qaeda, are busy mobilising to confront the Houthis as they push east.
The entire framework for one of Washington's most important security partners in a dangerous region is now in serious danger of falling apart.
Why does Yemen matter to Washington and the West? After all, this is not Kuwait. Yemen is not a rich country, in fact it is the poorest in the Arab world. Its dwindling oil exports are expected to run out altogether before 2020.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-30937495
Yemen's counter-terrorism forces have been trained by US Special Forces for several years
