[Updated] Saudi Navy Evacuates Diplomats from Yemen
Saudi Arabia's navy evacuated dozens of diplomats from Yemen on Saturday and the United Nations pulled out international staff after a third night of Saudi-led air strikes trying to stem advances by Iranian-allied Houthi fighters.
Eighty-six foreign diplomats and Saudi nationals were shipped out of Aden to the Red Sea port of Jeddah, a Saudi military officer said, escaping the city where President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi had taken refuge until Thursday, when he left for Egypt to shore up Arab support for his crumbling authority.
A Chinese warship also docked in the embattled Yemeni port city of Aden on Sunday to evacuate Chinese diplomats and expatriate workers, a port official and eyewitnesses have said.
Airport officials have said that up to 250 other foreigners working for international oil companies and NGOs also flew out to Ethiopia and Djibouti.
Clashes in South and East
Residents in Yemen have reported heavy clashes between the Houthis and mainly Sunni tribal fighters in the south of Yemen, while the air campaign sought to stall a fresh offensive by the Shi'ite Muslim group on Aden from the east.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait relocated their embassies to Aden last month after Houthi forces overran Sanaa. Other Arab and Western states also withdrew diplomats from the capital.
Houthi fighters made broad gains in the country's south and east on Friday despite a second day of Saudi-led air strikes meant to check the Iranian-backed militia's efforts to overthrow President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
The Shi'ite Muslim Houthi fighters and allied army units gained their first foothold on Yemen's Arabian Sea coast by seizing the port of Shaqra 100km (60 miles) east of Aden, residents told Reuters.
Regional concern
The crisis is testing Djibouti’s claim to be a shipping hub. The closest port to Yemen’s three harbors of Aden, Mukalla and Hudeida, the tiny country is experiencing a dramatic increase in traffic as ships diverted from the war-torn country dock there.
Kuwait's Emir told an Arab summit in Egypt that Houthi fighters in Yemen posed a threat to the region, as Saudi Arabia led a military operation against them.
"Rapid developments underway in Yemen pose a threat to our security," said Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also told an Arab League summit on Saturday that Cairo backed calls for a unified Arab force to confront regional security threats.
Sisi also said Egypt's participation in a military campaign against Shi'ite Houthi militias in Yemen, which has been led by Saudi Arabia, aimed to "preserve Yemen's unity and the peace of its territories."
LNG exports unaffected
Yemeni exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are running as normal despite a shutdown of major seaports last week after neighbouring Saudi Arabia and Arab allies launched air strikes against Iran-allied Houthi forces, industry sources said.
"Work is ongoing as normal, there have been no stoppage of LNG exports. Yes they have closed some ports but the LNG tankers are still coming and going and are being protected by international forces," one source told Reuters by telephone.
"The Houthis have not taken control over the LNG facilities."
Other sources confirmed LNG export operations have not stopped.
French oil company Total is the biggest foreign investor in Yemen and operates the Balhaf gas export facility, which mainly exports natural gas to Asia and Europe.
Total has said its sites in Yemen had not been impacted by military action in the country but its offices in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, were closed.