Aden – The United States Ambassador to Yemen, Steven H. Fagin, has officially resumed his duties in Aden following the completion of a temporary diplomatic assignment in Iraq that lasted three months.

Ambassador Fagin was appointed as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on May 29, 2025, stepping in to lead the mission during a transitional period after the departure of Ambassador Alina Romanowski. While in Iraq, Fagin oversaw key bilateral files and regional coordination efforts, drawing on his extensive experience in Middle Eastern diplomacy.

A career diplomat and member of the Senior Foreign Service, Fagin has previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad and Consul General in Erbil. His temporary reassignment was seen as a strategic move by Washington, leveraging his deep familiarity with both Iraqi and Iranian affairs.

During his absence, the U.S. Mission to Yemen continued operations under the supervision of senior staff. Fagin, who has served as Ambassador to Yemen since 2022, is expected to resume his engagement with Yemeni officials, humanitarian partners, and regional stakeholders amid ongoing efforts to support peace and stability in the country.

His return comes at a critical juncture, as diplomatic momentum builds around renewed negotiations and international humanitarian coordination in Yemen.