Algeria evacuates its citizens from war-torn Yemen

TUNIS, April 5. /TASS/. Algeria has evacuated its citizens from war-gripped Yemen, Algeria Press Service news agency said on Sunday.

According to Algeria Press Service, 160 Algerians, as well as 40 citizens of Tunisia, 15 Mauritania nationals, eight Libyans, three Moroccans and a Palestinian were evacuated from Yemen’s capital city of Sana’a to Cairo by an Algerian Airlines plane. The evacuation was conducted at the order of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algerian Foreign Minister Ratmane Lamamra said.

Since August 2014, Yemen has been suffering from 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.

After the rebels took control of the country’s capital and several northern provinces, Yemen’s President Abd Rabuh Mansur Hadi fled the country. They also announced the adoption of the so-called constitutional declaration.

Overnight to March 26, Saudi Arabia’s air force supported by aviation of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates launched an operation Decisive Storm against the Houthis . Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan and Sudan joined the Saudi-led coalition.

Algeria refused to take part in the operation, since its constitution prohibits to use national armed forces outside the country.