The Air Force, in response to a State Department request, evacuated US government personnel from Sana’a, Yemen, on Tuesday local time as part of a reduction of the US presence there due to the heightened terrorism threat, according to a Pentagon release. Reuters reported that a C-17 brought these personnel from Sana’a to Ramstein AB, Germany. Defense Department Press Secretary George Little said, despite the partial pullout, the United States would continue to have personnel on the ground to monitor the security situation in Yemen, states DOD’s Aug. 6 release. This withdrawal comes on the heels of a temporary shutdown of 20 US embassies and consulates in the Mideast, North Africa, and South Asia due to concern over a potential terrorist strike. “We are concerned about a threat stream indicating the potential for terrorist attacks against US persons or facilities overseas, especially emanating from the Arabian peninsula,” said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki, in the release. “As such, the department is taking appropriate steps to protect our employees,” she said.
The U.S. military is carrying out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions along the southern border and off the coast of Mexico using U.S. Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint and U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft as part of the Pentagon’s effort to secure the southern border at the direction of President…