(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The US Department of State on Wednesday "strongly" condemned "the recent offensive military actions undertaken in Yemen that have targeted President (Abd Rabbu Mansur) Hadi." It confirmed, after contacting President Hadi, that he left his home in the southern port city of Aden "voluntarily." He fled the capital Sana'a in February after it was taken over by Houthi fighters.
State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters that actions by the Houthis and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh "have caused widespread instability and chaos that threatens the well-being of all Yemenis." She confirmed that the Houthis have "seized the Al Anad Airbase located between Sana'a and Aden," and that the situation on the ground is "incredibly volatile, but also fluid," which is why the US doesn't have "specifics of their movement" to disclose. Psaki further stressed, "The international community has spoken clearly through UN Security Council resolutions and in other fora that the violent takeover of Yemen by an armed faction is unacceptable, and that the only legitimate transition can be accomplished through political negotiations and a consensus agreement among all of the political parties based on the GCC initiative and national dialog outcomes." The Obama Administration still considers Hadi the president of Yemen, she affirmed. "We were in touch with him earlier today. He is no longer at his residence," Psaki said. "I am not in a position to confirm any additional details from here about his location. "We have been in touch with him over the last several days - Ambassador [to Yemen, Matthew] Tueller has seen him in person and had traveled from Jeddah to go see him," Psaki said.
The US, Saudi Arabia, and GCC countries have been cooperating "to promote a peaceful political transition," she said, and also exchange "concerns about the aggressive actions of the Houthis." "The Saudis have legitimate concerns about the possible impact of current events in Yemen to their security, given their proximity. And we understand that they're taking appropriate precautions to ensure the security of their border," Psaki went on.
"The future of Yemen should be determined by the Yemeni people from all communities. It is the people of Yemen who will feel the effects if all the parties do not immediately cease military actions and return to Yemen's political transition," she warned.
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