Two Americans, 240 Yemen rebel backers freed in apparent swap

TWO captive Americans were freed on Wednesday in emen as more than 200 supporters of the country’s Houthi rebels were allowed to return home, in an apparent swap involving Saudi Arabia and Oman.

The White House announced the release of US citizens Sandra Loli and Mikael Gidada, saying that the two had been held captive by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels who control much of emen including its capital Sanaa.

The rebels also sent back the remains of a third American, Bilal Fateen, the White House said, without describing the circumstances of how he died.

Robert O’Brien, the national security advisor, stopped short of describing an exchange of people but thanked

Saudi King Salman and Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik AlSaid for their efforts to secure the release of our citizens.

President Donald Trump continues to prioritise securing the release and repatriation of Americans held hostage abroad, O’Brien said in a statement.

We will not rest until those held are home with their loved ones, he said.

Trump, struggling in polls ahead of November 3 elections, has highlighted efforts to free hostages and punish hostage-takers, with his campaign pointing to backing by the parents of Kayla Mueller, a relief worker killed after being abducted by Islamic State extremists in Syria in 2013.

Little had been known about the Americans held in

emen until the announcement of their release.

The Wall Street Journal,

quoting a senior White House official said to have arranged the deal, said Loli was a humanitarian worker seized three years ago and Gidada a businessman detained for about one year.

Houthi leaders have previously announced detentions of foreign humanitarian workers, accusing them of spying, and have been accused of diverting some of the badly needed aid sent into the country.