US Military Plans for Possible Evacuation of Embassy in Yemen
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The US military is updating plans to potentially evacuate US Embassy personnel from Yemen in the wake of rising violence and uncertainty about the security situation in that country.
Any military involvement in an evacuation would come only after the US ambassador requests help, something which has not yet happened. However, this week, defense and State Department officials confirmed there have been a series of conversations between the Pentagon and State Department about how long US diplomats can safely stay in Yemen.
"We are poised to act if it becomes necessary to get people out," the defense official said. "If you ask me do I think it's more likely now, the answer is yes."
A State Department official said there is always planning in place, "but no decisions have been made."
"The situation could change tomorrow or the next day, so I don't want to say we never will, but for now it is not in the cards," the State Department official said.
A US defense official with direct knowledge of the planning confirmed the details to CNN but declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. While the Pentagon has been keeping a close eye on the deteriorating security situation in Yemen for weeks, several defense officials tell CNN that in the last few days, concern has grown.
Terrorists have made general threats against the US Embassy and personnel in Yemen, including the ambassador, but the United States does not have any actionable information about a specific or credible threat, State Department officials said Tuesday.