AMEMB SANAA 9/20 DAILY SITREP

UNCLAS SANAA 001559 OP CENTER, NEA/FO, NEA/ARP, M, AND NEA/SCA/EX E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER YM SUBJECT: AMEMB SANAA 9/20 DAILY SITREP ¶1. Security: The MSD team has been deployed to augment security at the Hadda Apartment Complex. One of the ARSOs is currently conducting a security review of all official American residential areas in order to determine where host nation assets could be deployed to be most useful. Based upon ARSO assessments, RSO will request that host nation security place road blocks and increase manpower in those areas. ¶2. Consular: NSTR. ¶3. Media: NSTR. ¶4. TDY Assistance: An ARSO from Muscat will arrive on September 21 to assist the Regional Security Office with daily operations for three weeks. ¶5. Investigation: The forensics team's preliminary investigations reveal that four suicide vests were detonated rather than three as was originally believed. Grenade fragments and unexploded grenades were also located. These may have been used as a backup detonation device for the explosive belts. Crime scene work at the Embassy is expected to take several more days. Investigators located two more bullet strikes on the EMR, raising the total of known bullet strikes on the Ambassador's residence to eight. ¶6. Town Hall: Post held a well-attended Town Hall on 9/20 for all official Americans. The RSO briefed the community on the specifics of the attack, and the Ambassador encouraged everyone to consider the option of Authorized Departure. The Ambassador and RSO also outlines what steps have been taken to beef up security at the Embassy, the Sheraton, the Hadda apartment complex, and other USG-leased residences. At the conclusion of the Town Hall, we reminded the community that the RMO/P will be in town for three days beginning on Mon 9/22 and encouraged people to make appointments to see him as they weighed their options about AD. ¶7. ROYG Contacts: The Ambassador is trying to call on Deputy Prime Minister Alimi, currently out of Sana'a, to discuss our post-attack needs; he also has an appointment with FM Qirbi on Mon 9/20. He plans to see the President once Saleh returns from his travels in other Yemeni provinces. SECHE