The U.S. Embassy in Yemen Has Closed

The United States has announced that starting from Monday, February 25, it has closed its embassy in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, to the public for security reasons. According to a statement published on its website by the U.S. Embassy in Yemen, due to the resignation of the president, government, and prime minister, along with ongoing security concerns, the embassy is unable to provide consular services and can only assist in emergency matters related to American citizens. The statement emphasized that the embassy will remain closed until 'further notice.' The U.S. State Department has also warned its citizens to avoid traveling to Yemen due to security threats and terrorist activities. The U.S. Embassy's announcement came just hours after a drone strike killed three al-Qaeda members in the eastern desert areas of Yemen. The U.S. is the only country conducting offensive drone operations in this region with the permission of the Yemeni government. A day earlier, President Barack Obama emphasized that Washington would continue its actions against al-Qaeda in Yemen despite the developments against the Yemeni government. The Yemeni parliament has postponed a session to discuss the resignation of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi due to fears of a power vacuum in the country. Recently, Shiite Houthi rebels have managed to take control of ministries and government offices in Sana'a using heavy weapons. They have also arrested the president's chief of staff. Yemen has long been the scene of bloody conflicts involving the Houthi Shiites, al-Qaeda, and the central government.