SUPPORTING YEMEN'S REQUEST FOR ARMORED VEHICLES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000454

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARP AND PM ACTING A/S STEPHEN MULL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR MASS YM
SUBJECT: SUPPORTING YEMEN'S REQUEST FOR ARMORED VEHICLES

REF: A. SANAA 406


B. SANAA 367

C. SANAA 361

Classified By: CDA NABEEL KHOURY, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (U) This is an action request for the Department. Please
see paragraph seven.


2. (C) As reflected in reftels, the Republic of Yemen
Government (ROYG) has formally requested from the Governments
of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates the
expeditious transfer of several hundred military armored
vehicles to strengthen the ROYG's defense forces,
particularly due to growing unrest in the north. According
to ROYG contacts, Interior Minister Alimi personally
transmitted a written request to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz,
and President Saleh personally contacted the UAE President to
make the request. On March 25, President Saleh called CDA,
pleading for USG support for the transfer of armored
personnel carriers to stop the "bleeding" in Saada.


3. (C) The ROYG has yet to receive firm commitments for the
requested equipment. On March 26, Interior Minister Alimi
received a telephone call from Saudi Interior Minister
Mohammed bin Naif, who said "we support you" and apologized
for the longer than expected delay in providing support. The
UAEG only committed to send "armored sedans," which would not
be appropriate for maneuvering among Yemen's mountainous,
roadless terrain.


4. (C) The ROYG provided post with a copy of the separate
requests sent to the SAG, UAEG, and GOQ, which included:

Saudi Arabia: 400 armored personnel carriers (APC).

Qatar: 300 APCs.

UAE: 300 NIMR II APCs; 50 NIMR 6X6 cargo vehicles; 50 NIMR
4X4 cargo - 4 door vehicles 50 NIMR 4X4 cargo - 2 door
vehicles.


5. (C) The ROYG also requested additional communications,
weapons, and protective gear, which post will transmit to
NEA/ARP Yemen Desk Officer separately.


6. (C) COMMENT: In recent memory, post has never seen
Saleh push so strongly for support nor be so frank with
regional neighbors about Yemen's security deficiencies. His
impassioned pleas reflect a growing concern with mounting
government casualties in Saada, most of which are due to
snipers and ambushes attacking unarmored or lightly armored
convoys. Even before the current conflict, post recognized
the lack of safe and reliable transportation for troops and
included APCs in Section 1206 proposals for military
assistance. The USG has also previously transferred excess
M113s to the ROYG, but not in sufficient numbers to meet the
current demand. END COMMENT.


7. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Post strongly urges that the
Department approach the SAG, UAEG, and GOQ at appropriate
levels to urge a quick reply to the Yemenis given the time
sensitive nature of their request, and to express the USG's
willingness to expedite approval for transfer of any
U.S.-origin armored vehicles that they may wish to transfer
to the ROYG.
KHOURY