Thu 15 October 2020:
Two American hostages held in Yemen were freed in a prisoner swap involving more than 200 Houthi fighters.
Aid worker Sandra Loli was held for three years and businessman Mikael Gidada for about one year, Kash Patel, a deputy assistant to Donald Trump, told The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news.
In addition to the two Americans, the remains of a third, Bilal Fateen, were also being sent back to the United States. It was not known how long he was held by the Houthis or the circumstances surrounding his death.
The Journal said the individuals were transported out of Sanaa onboard a Royal Oman Air Force plane hours after about 200 Houthis were allowed to return to Yemen from Oman – where they had been held for some years.
The Journal added that the deal also included the delivery of medical aid to Yemen.
“The United States welcomes the release today of US citizens Sandra Loli and Mikael Gidada from Houthi custody in Yemen,” National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said in a statement.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo thanked American officials, Saudi King Salman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Sultan Haitham of Oman for their diplomatic efforts.
Today, the @realdonaldtrump Administration secured the release of two American hostages held captive by Houthis in Yemen. We join all Americans in welcoming their newly regained freedom.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) October 14, 2020
“We send our condolences to the family of Bilal Fateen, whose remains will be repatriated as well. We extend our sincerest thanks to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman and King Salman of Saudi Arabia for their efforts to secure the release of our citizens.”
Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam tweeted that the Yemenis who returned to the capital, Sanaa, included people who had either been stranded in Oman or were casualties of war who had travelled there during UN-brokered peace talks held in Sweden in 2018.
“The United Nations did not bring [them] back” in line with the agreement reached, Abdulsalam said.
For months, UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths, has been pushing all sides to agree to a ceasefire deal that would pave the way for broader talks to end the war.
The conflict erupted in late 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of the country’s north.
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