Piracy

Department of state warns U.S

Yemen · The U.S · SPECIAL 133/15

issued
2015-08-03 17:30Z
status
cancelled 2016-10-03 18:10Z (archive)
authority
DORIS R. MCBRYDE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 031225Z AUG 15.
source
nga_json · first seen 2026-08-17 13:38Z

Original warning text

YEMEN.
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/RESTORING HOPE. ON 11 FEB 2015,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. COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT OPTIONS ARE LIMITED.THE
   DEPARTMENT URGES U.S. CITIZENS TO DEFER TRAVEL TO
   YEMEN AND THOSE U.S. CITIZENS CURRENTLY LIVING IN
   YEMEN TO SHELTER IN A SECURE LOCATION UNTIL THEY ARE
   ABLE TO DEPART SAFELY.  U.S. CITIZENS WISHING TO
   DEPART SHOULD DO SO VIA COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION
   OPTIONS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. THE AIRPORTS ARE
   CURRENTLY CLOSED, BUT MAY OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY; OTHER
   UNFORESEEN OPPORTUNITIES TO DEPART MAY ALSO SUDDENLY
   ARISE.  THE FAA HAS PROHIBITED U.S. AIR OPERATORS FROM
   FLYING INTO OR OVER YEMENI AIRSPACE.
2. 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 VESSELS, 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.  PORT FACILITIES, COMMERCIAL
   VESSELS, OR TRANSITING WARSHIPS MAY ALSO BE IN
   RANGE OF  ROCKET OR MORTAR (INDIRECT) FIRE OR
   BECOME THE TARGETS OF ATTACKS FROM ENTITIES AND
   FACTIONS ENGAGED IN AND INVOLVED WITH THE CIVIL
   UNREST AND FIGHTING.  AS A RESULT, COMMERCIAL
   VESSELS TRANSITING THE RED SEA, BAB AL MANDEB,
   AND GULF OF ADEN SHOULD MAINTAIN VIGILANCE.
3. 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
4. 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 FOUR YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN
   SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES INDICATING THE POSSIBLE
   PRESENCE OF PIRATES.
5. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE U.S. MARITIME
   ADMINISTRATION MAY BE AVAILABLE AT:
   http://www.marad.dot.gov/newsroom/advisory/
6. CANCEL SPECIAL WARNING 132.

Timeline

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Piracy

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