Houthi rebels release two US hostages held in Yemen

Houthi rebels release two US hostages held in Yemen

A large prisoner exchange resulted in the release of two US hostages held by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The US officials said that the rebels freed Sandra Loli, a humanitarian worker, and Mikael Gidada, a US businessman. Loli was held for at least three years by the Houthi rebels while Gidada was held for one year.

The US officials added that the rebels also released the remains of Bilal Fateen, another US captive. The Houthis reported that they received 200 Yemenis from Oman under a large prisoner exchange program. Another prisoner-swap between the Yemenis government and the Houthi rebels is expected to take place on Thursday. The US state department welcomes Loli and Gidada in a statement. The department sent its condolences to the family of Fateen as well.

Robert O’Brien, a US national security advisor, appreciated the efforts of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman and King Salman of Saudi Arabia. They provided valuable assistance in getting Loli and Gadida back from the Houthi rebels. Mohammed Abdulsalam, a Houthi spokesperson, confirmed the release of 240 or so Yemenis by Oman through a tweet. He thanked Oman for its humanitarian efforts in his tweet.

The news about the release of the US hostage was broken by the Wall Street Journal. The report of the Journal stated that the US department wanted to secure a deal quickly due to the bad health condition of Loli. The International Committee of the Red Cross has reportedly overseen the whole operation. The deal reportedly included the delivery of medical aid for Yemen. Abdulsalam did not confirm the release of US hostages in his twee.

In March 2015, the Houthi rebels took control over the west of the country. Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, the president of Yemen, was forced to flee abroad. The country has gone through the worst humanitarian disaster due to the civil war. Thousands of Yemenis are dying due to various effects of the civil war including malnutrition, disease, and poor health.

Senior editor of the Chicago Morning Star

Related Posts
Donald Trump vetoes Congress Bill regarding Yemen-Saudi Arabia
President Donald Trump has vetoed Congress Bill to end support for Saudi Arabia in the
Seven People Killed in an Airstrike on Yemen Hospital
Seven People killed in an airstrike which hit the entrance of a remote hospital in
Fairlife Milk Supplier Dairies Face Animal Cruelty Probe
The Arizona Department of Agriculture has launched an investigation into two dairies that previously supplied
Northeast Scorches Under Triple-Digit Heatwave
A brutal heatwave continues to bake the northeastern United States, with major cities like New
Are Companies Leaving California? Not Really
Despite recent headlines about big-name companies leaving California, a new report from the Public Policy
Senate Democrats mock Biden for selling weapons to Israel
Some of President Biden's strongest Senate allies are calling on Israelis to end months of
Good News That’s Much Needed for Biden
The economy is making Americans feel a little more upbeat, especially when it comes to
Following three Palestinian shots, a Vermont man was arrested
Following the shooting deaths of three 20-year-old Palestinian-American students in Vermont, authorities have detained a
Milwaukee Is Preparing for a Nuclear Strike During the RNC
The city of Milwaukee is looking for insurance policies that would cover even the most
American Soldiers on High Alert as Iran Allies Join Israel-Hamas War
U.S. forces deployed around the Middle East are keeping an eye out for Iranian-backed militias