The US State Department on Thursday ordered some of its diplomats and other government workers at the US embassy in Yemen to leave the country because of deteriorating security amid unrest and sectarian clashes that have left Shia rebels in control of the capital.

“Today, the Department of State ordered a temporary reduction in the number of US government personnel in Yemen,” the department said in a statement. “We are taking this step out of an abundance of caution and in response to recent political developments and the changing, unpredictable security situation in Yemen.”

A separate travel warning for US citizens said the step was taken “due to the continued civil unrest and the potential for military escalation.”

It said the embassy in Sana’a would remain open with a majority of staff remaining and that the relocation of staff would be temporary.

The rebels, known as the Houthis, overran Sana’a over the weekend, defeating Sunni Islamist fighters. They signed a peace deal with the government on Sunday but have ignored calls for fighters to leave the city. The Houthis, believed to be backed by Iran, have vowed to go after al-Qaida’s branch in the country, Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which the US believes is a major threat to American interests.