The Ministry of External Affairs has advised Indian nationals living in Yemen to leave the strife-torn country in view of the fragile security situation and high possibility of major conflicts and disturbances.
“The Government of India had on January 21 issued an advisory to all Indian nationals in Yemen. We would like to reiterate that now. The security situation in Yemen is fragile with high possibility of major conflicts and disturbances. We therefore advice all Indian nationals , who are resident in Yemen, to consider leaving Yemen on a voluntary basis by earliest available commercial flights,” said MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.
As per reports, Houthi rebels backed by allied army units seized Yemen’s largest al-Anad air base on Wednesday from forces loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.
United Nations’ special envoy Jamal Benomar had earlier warned that the Yemen crisis may become “protracted in the vein of an Iraq, Syria, Libya combined scenario.”
He also warned that Yemen was on the “edge of civil war” and added that the participation of Shia Houthi rebels in the peace process was crucial.
The Security Council had also released a statement expressing unanimous support to President Hadi, who has sought refuge in the southern port city of Aden after fleeing the capital Sanaa in February.
The statement came as the rebels took control of Yemen’s third-largest city, Taiz.
Instability has steadily been rising in the nation, where al-Qaeda and Islamic State sympathisers also pose a threat. (ANI)