WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US citizens should avoid all travel to Yemen and should leave the country even as the US government has no plans to evacuate its citizens, the US State Department said in an update to its travel warning for Yemen.
“All consular services, routine and/or emergency, have been suspended until further notice,” the updated travel warning, issued on Friday, said. “The Department urges US citizens to defer travel to Yemen and those US citizens currently living in Yemen to depart when you are able to safely do so.”
In Friday's travel warning, the State Department also said there would be no US-government attempt to evacuate US citizens.
“There are no plans for a US government-coordinated evacuation of US citizens at this time. We encourage all US citizens to shelter in a secure location until they are able to depart safely. US citizens wishing to depart should do so via commercial transportation options when they become available,” the travel warning said.
Many commercial flights into and out of Yemen have been cancelled.
Yemen is currently the scene of armed clashes as Houthi forces continue to overrun areas controlled by troops loyal to displaced President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who fled the country amid the escalating violence.
On March 26, a Saudi Arabian-led coalition began carrying out airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen in response to a request by Hadi.
On Friday night, Russia evacuated 311 people on two passenger jets from Yemen’s capital Sanaa to Moscow. The evacuated included 152 Russians as well as citizens of Poland, Ukraine and Belarus, among other countries.
