A Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday that evacuating all U.S. military personnel from Yemen will make it more difficult to combat terrorism in the region.
“The reposition of forces out of Yemen will make the fight against [al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula] more difficult,” said Col. Steve Warren, director of defense press operations.
All U.S. military personnel were evacuated from Yemen last week amid violence and deteriorating security in the country. All equipment either left the country with the troops or was destroyed, Col. Warren said.
The U.S. embassy in Yemen had already been evacuated last month.
Col. Warren said that while it will be more difficult without personnel stationed in Yemen, American troops are still able to fight terrorism in the region.
“We do retain the ability to hunt and kill terrorists wherever they are,” he said.
• Jacqueline Klimas can be reached at jklimas@washingtontimes.com.
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