British Special Forces Pull Out Of Yemen

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

UK Special Forces have pulled out of Yemen because of the deteriorating security situation in the country.

Sky News understands they were airlifted from the capital Sana'a over the weekend.

They had been operating in the country alongside US counterparts, who have now also been withdrawn.

US forces evacuated al Annad airbase near the southern city of al Houta, which was captured by al Qaeda militants on Friday.

Jeff Rathke, US State Department spokesman, said in a statement: "Due to the deteriorating security situation in Yemen, the US government has temporarily relocated its remaining personnel out of Yemen."

The UK Government has not commented on the withdrawal of British troops.

Last month, Washington, London and Paris closed their embassies as the country teeters on the brink of all-out civil war.

Yemen has become increasingly unstable amid a power struggle between Iranian-backed Shia rebels, known as Houthis, in the north and UN-recognised President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Mr Hadi fled to the southern city of Aden in February after escaping from house arrest in Sana'a. 

The Houthis have taken control of the capital and six provinces.

On Friday, Islamic State affiliates claimed responsibility for two bombs at mosques in Sana'a. As many as 150 people were killed in bomb blasts in the capital last week.

If the group was behind the attacks, it would mark its first large-scale foray into the country and could raise the prospect of a bloody Shia versus Sunni conflict.

The CIA and US military have carried out drone strikes against insurgents in Yemen for many years.

A 2011 strike killed influential cleric Anwar al Awlaki, who was the motivator behind many terrorist attacks against the West and is said to have influenced the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris.

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