Yemen raises the state of security alert in precaution of attacks

The Yemeni military and police forces raised the degree of security alert after the arrival of information on the intention of a foreign group to infiltrate into Yemen and carry out destruction acts.

News reports in Yemen said that the ministry of the interior issued instructions to the security forces and the coast police guard forces to take strong security measures on the coasts and key oil foundations.

One security official who asked to be anonymous told the German news agency that the security forces raised since last Tuesday the readiness of its forces in all ports and stations that export oil.

The Yemeni official said that "the security departments in the coastal cities and the coast guard forces took preventive measures to prevent the infiltration of any of the terrorist members to our country via the sea route." Other officials said that the new measures covered the deployment of copters and more boats to ensure the protection of two crude oil exports stations that overlooks the Arab Sea and the Red Sea.

The Yemeni officials did not indicate how the authorities got the information about the likely assaults, but the announcement to tighten ports protection came directly after a visit to Yemen carried out by the commander of the American forces to fighting terrorism in the African Horn Lt. Gen. Samuel Hailand.