DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – The United Arab Emirates said Sunday that its military freed a British hostage held by al-Qaida in Yemen who had been kidnapped 18 months ago while working as a petroleum engineer in the war-torn country.
A statement carried by the UAE’s official WAM news agency said Douglas Robert Semple, 64, was freed during a military intelligence operation and taken to the Yemeni port city of Aden before being flown by UAE military aircraft to Abu Dhabi. He was greeted at the airport by the British ambassador and taken for medical checks at a hospital, the statement said.
The statement did not say where in Yemen Semple had been held or provide any details on the rescue operation. The UAE is part of the Saudi-led and U.S.-backed coalition that has been launching airstrikes against Shiite rebels in Yemen since March.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed the release of a British hostage by UAE forces in a military intelligence operation.
“The British national is safe and well, and is receiving support from British government officials,” he said in a statement, adding that the government is “very grateful for the assistance of the UAE.”