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Tag: Yemen

  • Thousands Of Saudi Forces Flee Bases, Refuse To Participate In Ground Assault In Yemen

    Thousands Of Saudi Forces Flee Bases, Refuse To Participate In Ground Assault In Yemen

    Almost 4,000 Saudi forces fled their border bases in anticipation of Riyadh’s order for launching a ground assault on Yemen, European diplomatic sources said on Sunday.

    “The intel gathered by the western intelligence agencies showed that the Saudi military forces have fled their bases, military centers and bordering checkpoints near Yemen in groups,” diplomatic sources were quoted as saying by Iraq’s Arabic-language Nahrain Net news website.

    The European sources said that the Saudi forces’ mass AWOL forced Riyadh to declare ceasefire and dissuaded it from launching ground attacks against Yemen.

    Other reports also said that over 10,000 soldiers from different Saudi military units have fled the army battalions and the National Guard.

    Experts believe that the Saudi army lacks strong morale to launch a ground invasion of Yemen and such an attack would be considered as a suicide for Saudi Arabia.

    Saudi Arabia has been striking Yemen for 32 days now to restore power to fugitive president Mansour Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh. The Saudi-led aggression has so far killed at least 3,005 Yemenis, including hundreds of women and children.

    Hadi stepped down in January and refused to reconsider the decision despite calls by Ansarullah revolutionaries of the Houthi movement.

    Despite Riyadh’s claims that it is bombing the positions of the Ansarullah fighters, Saudi warplanes are flattening residential areas and civilian infrastructures.

    On Tuesday the monarchy declared end to Yemen airstrikes after four weeks of bombings, but airstrikes are still underway.

     

    Source: www.globalresearch.ca

  • More Than 40 Singaporeans Choose To Remain In Yemen, Urged To Exercise Personal Responsibility

    More Than 40 Singaporeans Choose To Remain In Yemen, Urged To Exercise Personal Responsibility

    Foreign Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam today (April 15) called on more than 40 Singaporeans who are still living in war-torn Yemen to uphold “personal responsibility” by leaving the country immediately.

    Speaking to the media today, he said: “The Government has a duty to try and help our citizens in situations like this. At the same time, people also have an individual, personal responsibility not to put themselves at risk.”

    Despite “obvious risks” due to the increased fighting in Yemen and advisories issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), some have not heeded calls to leave, he added.

    Drawing a parallel with the situation in Syria, Mr Shanmugam said: “Again, despite many advisories, some of our people did not leave Syria in time, and then they found that all the escape routes were cut off and leaving Syria became extremely difficult.”

    Syria has been grappling with a civil war since 2011.

    “So really, those who are (in Yemen) should leave immediately and if they don’t, they are putting themselves at serious risk. We will then be operating in a situation where our own ability to rescue them becomes very limited,” he added.

    Tensions between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi have escalated since the Houthis took control of Yemen’s capital Sana’a in September last year, five days after MFA issued the first advisory for Singaporeans to leave Yemen.

    Since last month, a Saudi Arabia-led coalition has been targeting the Houthis and their allies—namely forces loyal to former Yemeni leader Ali Abdulla Saleh— in a series of air strikes.

    Despite the MFA’s multiple appeals, more than 40 Singaporeans, including students, businessmen, homemakers and several young children, are still living in various Yemeni cities.

    “We won’t know the full number, but that is our estimate,” said Mr Shanmugam.

    TODAY understands that many have remained due to business and education obligations. Some, such as Mr Haykal Bafana, 43, told TODAY that he had lived through similar unrest in 2011.

    As Singapore does not have an embassy in Yemen, it seeks assistance from other countries such as China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Oman, said Mr Shanmugam.

    However, many embassies on the ground are winding down rescue operations, he noted, which “limits (the Government’s) ability to do much in Yemen any further”.

    A total of 25 Singaporeans have left Yemen in the last two weeks, including a woman who was evacuated yesterday.

    As air travel in Yemen has ceased, current rescue operations are primarily conducted over land, and can take up more than 20 hours through rough terrain.

    TODAY understands that the Singaporeans who managed to get out of Yemen also encountered challenges such as 10-hour bus delays and the lack of travel documents.

    MFA's Evacuation Efforts In Yemen

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Singaporeans In Yemen Urged To Contact MFA Due As Difficulties Mount In Evacuations

    Singaporeans In Yemen Urged To Contact MFA Due As Difficulties Mount In Evacuations

    SINGAPORE’S Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) have urged Singaporeans in war-torn Yemen to contact the ministry, as it warns that current evacuation operations have become increasingly challenging there due to the volatile situation.

    “In recent weeks, MFA has worked with foreign governments, which are mounting operations, to evacuate a few Singaporean families,” said the MFA in a statement today.

    “However, it is unclear how long such operations will continue given the fluid ground conditions.”

    The ministry added that it is keeping in close touch with the remaining Singaporeans in the Middle-east country while continuing to coordinate with other countries to facilitate their departure.

    Relief workers have warned of a dire situation in the impoverished state, where a Saudi-led coalition is waging an air war on Iran-backed Houthi Shi’ite rebels who seized power in the capital Sanaa.

    Last Tuesday, a Singaporean woman living in Aden, Yemen’s main southern city, contacted the MFA to seek help desperately as rebel troops closed in on the city.

    With assistance from officials, Madam Sherin Fathimah, 37, and her four children, aged between four and 13, were eventually picked up by a Chinese frigate last Thursday at the Port of Aden and taken to Djibouti on the Horn of Africa.

    Madam Sherin and her children arrived safely in Singapore last Saturday.

    At least 53 people were killed in 24 hours of street fighting and heavy shelling between rebels and fighters loyal to the Saudi-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in Aden, medical and army sources said yesterday. Aden is the last bastion of support for Mr Hadi who fled from Sanaa to Aden in February.

    The World Health Organisation today said that fighting in Yemen over the past few weeks has killed more than 540 people and wounded 1,700 as the country sinks deeper into a multi-sided conflict.

    Singaporeans in Yemen who have not contacted the MFA or require urgent assistance may contact the MFA Duty Officer (24 hours) at 6379 8800/8855 or [email protected]. They can also eRegister with MFA at http://eregister.mfa.gov.sg/.

     

    Source: www.thestraitstimes.com

  • Singaporean Woman And Four Children Stuck In Aden, Yemen

    Singaporean Woman And Four Children Stuck In Aden, Yemen

    A Singaporean woman and her four children are stuck in Aden, Yemen, as rebel troops close in on the Middle Eastern port city.

    Madam Sherin Fathima Syed Abdul Ravoof, in her 30s, and her four children aged between four and 13, have no way out of the country, which is on the brink of civil war.

    Countries such as China and India have been evacuating their citizens on naval frigates.

    “My kids are terrified because nothing like this ever happens in Singapore,” Madam Sherin told The New Paper.

    A Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesman said it is in close contact with Singaporeans in Yemen, especially those who want to leave the country.

    But since Singapore has no diplomatic representation in Yemen, MFA is working with the Malaysian and Indonesian embassies to help evacuate Singaporeans.

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

  • MFA Advisory For Singaporeans To Leave Yemen

    MFA Advisory For Singaporeans To Leave Yemen

    The government has issued a travel notice for Singaporeans to leave Yemen.

    “Given the fluid and uncertain security situation in Yemen, Singaporeans are strongly advised to leave the country while it is still feasible,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said.

    MFA also said, “Should the situation further deteriorate, Singaporeans may face difficulties leaving Yemen. Many airlines have already stopped flying in and out of Yemen and those still doing so might cancel their flights with little or no notice.

    “Singaporeans are also strongly advised to avoid all travel to Yemen.”

    Yemen was thrown into a crisis, after former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and his party walked out of the new government. He had rejected the UN Security Council sanctions against him for obstructing peace.

    Singaporeans in Yemen who need consular assistance should immediately contact the MFA Duty Officer (24-hours) at: 6379 8800 / 8855 or [email protected].

    Singaporeans in Yemen should also eRegister immediately at: http://eregister.mfa.gov.sg/ if they have not done so.