Yemen rebels seized US vehicles on Wednesday after diplomats shuttered the embassy, but the Marine Corp said heavy weapons and firearms were destroyed prior to the group leaving the country.
According to The Associated Press, diplomats from the US, Britain, and France, were forced to flee the country after Houthi rebels overthrew Yemen's U.S.-backed President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and dissolved parliament last month.
In the days and weeks since his forced resignation, the Shiite Zaydi sect has sown instability across the Sunni-majority country as it consolidates its power.
Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said the evacuation was "orderly," with staffers having time to destroy files and documents, and the Marines having time to destroy machine guns and other weapons.
After diplomats departed on commercial airliners, Yemeni airport officials told reporters that the rebels seized over 20 vehicles that were left behind in a display of bravado. Airport officials also said that weapons left in the vehicles were also seized by rebels, however Marines said that personal sidearms — which could not be taken on the commercial flights — were destroyed with sledgehammers before departure.
On the day of the evacuation, thousands of Houthi supporters marched through the capital city of Sanaa, shouting "Death to America, Death to Israel," which is part of the group's slogan,
USA Today reported.
Yemen is the Arab region's poorest country, and the al-Qaeda branch there is considered one of the most threatening terror groups. The country's former Sunni leader was aligned with Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which expressed concern over the insurgency. Non-Arab and Shiite-majority Iran, on the other hand, has voiced its support for the rebels as it continues to consolidate power in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
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