Editing Foreign relations of Yemen (section)

== 2010 embassy closures ==
In late December 2009, the U.S. Embassy asked Americans in Yemen to keep watch for any suspicious terrorist activity following a [[Northwest Airlines Flight 253|terrorist incident on board a flight to the US]] that was linked to Yemen.<ref name="CNN: U.S. Embassy in Yemen closes over terror threats">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/01/03/yemen.us.embassy/|title=U.S. Embassy in Yemen closes over terror threats|date=3 January 2010|work=[[CNN International]]|access-date=3 January 2010}}</ref> On January 3, 2010, following intelligence<ref name="Guardian: US shuts embassy in Yemen after al-Qaida threats" /> and threats from [[al-Qaeda]], the U.S. embassy in [[Sana'a]] was closed.<ref name="Guardian: US shuts embassy in Yemen after al-Qaida threats">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/03/us-shuts-yemen-embassy|title=US shuts embassy in Yemen after al-Qaida threats|author=Matthew Weaver|date=3 January 2010|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=3 January 2010 | location=London}}</ref> A statement issued on the embassy's website said: "The US Embassy in Sana'a is closed today, in response to ongoing threats by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to attack American interests in Yemen".<ref name="Embassy: Closed in Response to Security Threat">{{cite web|url=http://yemen.usembassy.gov/embclosed.html|title=Embassy Closed in Response to Security Threat|date=3 January 2010|work=Embassy of the United States: Sana'a, Yemen|access-date=3 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106072138/http://yemen.usembassy.gov/embclosed.html|archive-date=6 January 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]] reported that the closure of the embassy can mean only that "they believe al-Qaeda threat is very serious". No reopening date was given.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/01/2010139175878540.html|title=US shuts Yemen embassy over threats|date=3 January 2010|work=[[Al Jazeera English]]|access-date=3 January 2010}}</ref>

On the same day, the [[United Kingdom]] withdrew their presence in the country for similar purposes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/UK-And-US-Embassies-In-Yemen-Closed-As-UK-And-America-Unite-To-Tackle-Terrorism-In-Gulf-State/Article/201001115513344?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15513344_UK_And_US_Embassies_In_Yemen_Closed_As_UK_And_America_Unite_To_Tackle_Terrorism_In_Gulf_State|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711080534/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/UK-And-US-Embassies-In-Yemen-Closed-As-UK-And-America-Unite-To-Tackle-Terrorism-In-Gulf-State/Article/201001115513344?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15513344_UK_And_US_Embassies_In_Yemen_Closed_As_UK_And_America_Unite_To_Tackle_Terrorism_In_Gulf_State|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 July 2012|title=UK And US Embassies In Yemen Closed|date=3 January 2010|work=[[Sky News]]|access-date=4 January 2010}}</ref> The following day, [[France]] closed its embassy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0104/yemen.html|title=France shuts down Yemen embassy|date=4 January 2010|work=[[RTÉ News and Current Affairs|RTÉ News]]|access-date=4 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/security-threats-keep-us-british-embassies-closed-in-yemen-80566832/111216.html|title=Security Threats Keep US, British Embassies Closed in Yemen|date=4 January 2010|work=[[Voice of America]]|access-date=4 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106054627/http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/Security-Threats-Keep-US-British-Embassies-Closed-in-Yemen-80566832.html|archive-date=6 January 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the French Embassy was closed, staff remained inside.<ref name="Guardian: 2010-01-04">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/04/yemen-embassies-shut|title=US and UK keep Yemen embassies shut for second day|author=Julian Borger|author2=Hugh Macleod|author3=Ed Pilkington|author4=Peter Walker|date=4 January 2010|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=4 January 2010 | location=London}}</ref>  The French foreign ministry issued a statement saying, "Our ambassador decided on January 3 not to authorise any public access to the diplomatic mission until further notice."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cf8058a0-f856-11de-beb8-00144feab49a.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cf8058a0-f856-11de-beb8-00144feab49a.html |archive-date=2022-12-10 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Third western embassy closes in Yemen|last=England|first=Andrew|author2=Jean Eaglesham|date=2009-01-04|newspaper=Financial Times|access-date=5 January 2010}}</ref> At the [[Italy|Italian]] Embassy, only those with prior appointments were allowed to enter. Ambassador Mario Boffo noted, though, that "if things remain as they are, then tomorrow or the day after we will return to normality."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE6031CU._CH_.2420|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220637/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE6031CU._CH_.2420|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-03|title=Italy limits public access to embassy in Yemen|date=2009-01-04|work=Reuters|access-date=5 January 2010}}</ref> The embassy of the [[Czech Republic]] closed the visa and consular departments "amid fears of terrorist attacks."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1523148.php/Czech-Republic-closes-visa-department-in-Yemen|title=Czech Republic closes visa department in Yemen|date=2009-01-04|publisher=M&C|access-date=5 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106112354/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1523148.php/Czech-Republic-closes-visa-department-in-Yemen|archive-date=6 January 2010}}</ref> [[Japan]], [[South Korea]], [[Spain]] and [[Germany]] also made changes to their security arrangements and embassy accessibility.<ref name="CNN: More embassies halt service in Yemen amid terror threat">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/01/04/yemen.embassies/|title=More embassies halt service in Yemen amid terror threat|date=4 January 2010|work=[[CNN International]]|access-date=4 January 2010}}</ref> In addition to extra security at embassies, Yemen increased security at [[Sana'a International Airport]].<ref name="BBC1"/>

According to the [[BBC]], Yemeni media say the embassy closures come after "six trucks full of weapons and explosives entered the capital, and the security forces lost track of the vehicles."<ref name="BBC1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8439892.stm|title=Embassies shut after 'Yemen lost track of arms trucks' |date=2009-01-04|publisher=BBC|access-date=5 January 2010}}</ref> Trucks driven by militants, previously under security surveillance, had entered Sana'a and lost the surveillance at that point.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/6932746/Six-trucks-of-explosives-disappear-in-Yemen.html|title=Six trucks of explosives 'disappear' in Yemen |last=Blomfield|first=Adrian|date=2010-01-04|newspaper=Telegraph|access-date=5 January 2010 | location=London}}</ref>

The French, UK, and US embassies later reopened the following day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8443078.stm|title=Yemen 'arrests al-Qaeda suspects' wounded in raid|date=6 January 2010|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=6 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=90711|title=US opens Yemen embassy after raid|last=Sudam|first=Mohamed|date=6 January 2010|publisher=[[Business Day (South Africa)]]|access-date=6 January 2010}}</ref>