Two U.S. nationals released by Houthi rebels in possible prisoner swap

[October 15, 2020]  DUBAI (Reuters) - Two U.S. nationals held by Houthi rebels in Yemen have been released, Omani state media said on Wednesday, in what may have been part of a prisoner swap, with Oman sending flights to Sanaa to return 250 Yemenis from the Gulf state and abroad.

"Under the directions of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, the relevant authorities in the Sultanate contacted authorities in Sanaa which agreed to release the Americans and to transfer them to the Sultanate before heading home," Oman state TV said.

The United States welcomed the release of two U.S. citizens, Sandra Loli and Mikael Gidada, from Houthi custody and said the remains of Bilal Fateen would also be repatriated, according to a statement by U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien.

Aid worker Loli had been held captive for three years and businessman Gidada one year.

Oman sent two flights to Sanaa to carried back 250 Yemenis who had been receiving treatment in the Gulf state and abroad, the Oman report said.

O'Brien thanked Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said as well as Saudi Arabia's King Salman for their help in securing the release of the two citizens.

"President (Donald) Trump continues to prioritize securing the release and repatriation of Americans held hostage abroad," he said.

U.S. national Mikael Gidada looks on after being released, in Oman, in this picture released by Oman News Agency on October 14, 2020. Oman News Agency/Handout via REUTERS

Violence between fighters loyal to the Saudi-backed government and Houthi forces has escalated since U.N. Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths pressed both parties to agree on a ceasefire deal that would pave the way for broader negotiations to end a war that has killed more than 100,000 people.

(Reporting by Maha El Dahan and Steve Holland; writing by Samar Hassan; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Michael Perry)

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