All news

Beijing sends ships to Yemen to evacuate Chinese nationals

The situation in Yemen is deteriorating

BEIJING, March 30. /TASS/. China’s Defense Ministry has sent several ships to Yemen to evacuate Chinese nationals from the country on Monday.

"China sent a group of ships to evacuate citizens from Yemen due to the deteriorating situation in the country," the defense ministry said in a statement published on its official website.

People’s Liberation Army Navy ships sent to Yemen usually serve to protect trade routes in the Gulf of Aden and near the Somalian coast. The Chinese Defense Ministry made a decision to send ships "with the aim of protecting the security of Chinese citizens and their property."

Crisis in Yemen

Since August 2014, Yemen has been hit by a severe political and security crisis. In late January, the armed groups of Ansar Allah (Houthi rebels) forced the president and the government to announce resignation.

The rebels later took control of the country’s capital and several northern provinces. They also announced the adoption of the so-called constitutional declaration.

Overnight to March 26, Saudi Arabia launched a military operation in the neighboring country and delivered air strikes at several Houthi positions.

Pro-government forces regained control of the Aden airport last week, while Yemeni President Abd Rabbah Mansur Hadi fled the country to Saudi Arabia.

Tags