KUALA LUMPUR: Two Royal Malaysian Air Force C-130s aircraft carrying 43 Armed Forces personnel were deployed last night to evacuate the remaining Malaysians in Yemen.
At a media briefing, Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Zin said the aircraft departed from Subang Airbase last night for the United Arab Emirates.
"The aircraft will be stationed in the country ready for immediate deployment for the safe evacuation of our Malaysian citizens through the neighbouring countries.
Zulkifeli said the Malaysian Armed Forces had planned and coordinated the evacuation since the unrest in Yemen began but were waiting for the right moment for deployment.
"Since the situation in Yemen is not improving we have advised Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein that it is the right time to move forward," he said, adding the evacuation plans received approval of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Zulkifeli said that there were over 500 Malaysians awaiting evacuation and that the mission will go on until all of them have been brought home safely.
"The safety of our Malaysian citizens is our top priority."
The situation in Yemen has descended into chaos in recent weeks as a Saudi Arabia-led coalition launched air strikes against Houthi rebels in the capital city of Sanaa.
Fighting in the country between Houthi rebels and government troops began last September when the Houthi rebels seized Sanaa in a coup.