- Title: Houthi supporters denounce U.S. troop deployment in Yemen
- Date: 13th May 2016
- Summary: VARIOUS OF MEN STANDING CARRYING WEAPONS AND CHANTING SLOGANS VARIOUS OF HOUTHI SOLDIERS LOOKING ON DURING PROTEST HOUTHI SOLDIER SITTING IN TRUCK HOLDING MACHINE GUN
- Embargoed: 28th May 2016 17:07
- Keywords: Yemen Houthi protest Sanaa
- Location: SANAA, YEMEN
- City: SANAA, YEMEN
- Country: Yemen
- Reuters ID: LVA0024HN72O7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
Thousands of Yemenis took to the streets of Sanaa on Friday (May 13) to denounce the recent deployment of a small number of U.S. forces in Yemen.
Last week, the U.S. military said it had deployed the troops to offer intelligence support to the United Arab Emirates' forces in their battle against al-Qaeda's Yemeni branch.
Around 2,000 Yemeni and Emirati troops advanced into the seaport of Mukalla late last month, taking control of its port and airport and meeting little resistance in what had been a stronghold of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
On Friday, the Houthis threatened to retaliate against the American troops on the ground.
"The people are armed and will take strong measures to chase down the American forces no matter where they are," said local Houthi leader Ibrahim al Ubaidi at the protest, where men waved their guns in the air and chanted anti-American slogans.
U.S. intelligence and military officials view AQAP as a threat to the United States. The group has plotted to down U.S. airliners and claimed responsibility for last year's attacks on the office of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris.
Despite significant U.S. strikes, including one that killed AQAP's leader last year, U.S. counter-terrorism efforts have been undermined by Yemen's civil war in which the Iran-backed Houthis have been locked in a bloody battle against the U.S. and Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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