Department of state warns U.S

Original warning text

1. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE WARNS U.S. CITIZENS
   OF THE HIGH SECURITY THREAT LEVEL IN YEMEN DUE
   TO TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, CIVIL UNREST, AND OPERATION
   DECISIVE STORM. ON 11 FEB 15, DUE TO
   THE DETERIORATING SECURITY SITUATION IN SANAA,
   THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE SUSPENDED EMBASSY OPERATIONS
   AND U.S. EMBASSY SANAA AMERICAN STAFF WERE RELOCATED
   OUT OF THE COUNTRY. ALL CONSULAR SERVICES, ROUTINE
   AND/OR EMERGENCY, HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER
   NOTICE. ALL AIRPORTS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED AND THERE
   ARE NO COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT OPTIONS AVAILABLE. THE
   DEPARTMENT URGES U.S. CITIZENS TO DEFER TRAVEL TO
   YEMEN AND THOSE U.S. CITIZENS CURRENTLY LIVING IN
   YEMEN TO SHELTER IN PLACE UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO DEPART.
   THE LEVEL OF RISK FOR FOREIGNERS IN YEMEN REMAINS HIGH.
   YEMEN BASED AL QAIDA ARABIAN PENINSULA (AQAP)
   MAINTAINS AN INTEREST IN CONDUCTING ATTACKS
   AGAINST PORT FACILITIES, COMMERCIAL, OR TRANSITING
   WARSHIPS, AND ARE ENGAGED IN GENERAL PLANNING IN
   THIS REGARD. HOWEVER, IT CANNOT BE RULED OUT THAT
   THE EXTREMISTS MAY BE CAPABLE OF OTHER MORE
   SOPHISTICATED METHODS OF TARGETING, SUCH AS THE
   USE OF MORTARS OR PROJECTILES TO TARGET SHIPS
   SUCH AS THE ROCKETS USED TO UNSUCCESSFULLY
   STRIKE A NAVY SHIP IN JORDAN IN 2005. ALTHOUGH
   THE TIME AND LOCATION OF SUCH AN ATTACK IS
   UNKNOWN, IT IS LIKELY THAT SHIPS IN THE
   BAB-AL-MANDEB STRAIT, SOUTHERN RED SEA, AND THE
   GULF OF ADEN ALONG THE COAST OF YEMEN, AS WELL
   AS IN ASSOCIATED PORTS OR AT OFFSHORE FACILITIES
   ARE AT THE GREATEST RISK OF BECOMING TARGETS
   OF SUCH AN ATTACK.
2. U.S. CITIZENS WHO ARE ABLE TO DEPART YEMEN
   FOR ANOTHER COUNTRY AND ARE IN NEED OF
   EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE MAY CONTACT A U.S. EMBASSY
   OR CONSULATE IN THAT COUNTRY. WHILE THEY DO
   NOT HAVE AN ABILITY TO PROVIDE DEPARTURE ASSISTANCE
   TO U.S. CITIZENS WHO ARE IN YEMEN, THEY CAN
   PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO U.S. CITIZENS BY
   RELAYING URGENT MESSAGES WITH LOVED-ONES,
   ENROLLING U.S. CITIZENS IN OUR SMART TRAVELER
   ENROLLMENT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE INFORMATIONAL UPDATES
   BY EMAIL, AND TO FACILITATE CONSULAR SERVICES TO
   U.S. CITIZENS WHO ARRIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORING COUNTRY.
   FOR U.S. CITIZEN INQUIRIES, YOU MAY SEND AN EMAIL TO
   [email protected].
   THE CURRENT TRAVEL WARNING FOR YEMEN IS POSTED AT:
   http:travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/
   alertswarnings/yemen-travel-warning.html
3. TRAVEL BY BOAT THROUGH THE RED SEA OR NEAR THE
   SOCOTRA ISLANDS IN THE GULF OF ADEN ALSO PRESENTS
   A CONTINUING HIGH RISK OF PIRATE ATTACKS. IN 2011,
   OVER 15 VESSELS WERE REPORTEDLY ATTACKED IN THIS
   AREA. WHILE THE NUMBER OF ATTACKS HAS DIMINISHED
   OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN
   SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE POSSIBLE
   PRESENCE OF PIRATES.
4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE U.S. MARITIME
   ADMINISTRATION MAY BE AVAILABLE AT:
   http://www.marad.dot.gov/news_room_landing_page/
   maritime_advisories/advisory_summary.htm
5. CANCEL SPECIAL WARNING 125.