SANAA, Yemen (AP) – One of several Americans held by Iranian-backed Shiite rebels in Yemen was set free on Monday, a U.S. official said, as a French hostage abducted in Yemen by an unknown party appeared in a video pleading for help.
The rebels, known as Houthis, seized the capital last year and have been the target of a U.S.-backed and Saudi-led air campaign since March 26. The deal to release the American, who was not immediately identified, was mediated by Oman.
The released American, who had been injured in unknown circumstances, was on his way to Oman, according to the U.S. official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter because of privacy rules and spoke on condition of anonymity. No details on the identity of the freed captive were immediately available.
A video meanwhile surfaced showing Frenchwoman Isabelle Prime, a World Bank consultant who was kidnapped in February, pleading for help. The Associated Press viewed the video on Monday.
Prime was abducted in the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, along with her Yemeni translator, who was released shortly afterward. There was no word until now on her fate.