White Home: 2 Americans detained in Yemen are released

Two Americans who were being held in the war-ravaged country have been released and sent to Oman, the White House said Sunday.

National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said Washington was “deeply appreciative” of those who helped obtain the release of the two citizens, who were not identified in the statement.

A third American, a 35-year-old, was still being held for unknown reasons, according to reports.

They are Scott Darden, 45, an employee of a Louisiana-based logistics company, and Sam Farran, 54, a security consultant from Michigan, local media reported. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release information to reporters.

Houthi rebels have controlled large stretches of Yemen since past year, and in March they forced Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a Sunni Muslim, into exile in Saudi Arabia. The conflict escalated in March as a Saudi-led, U.S.-backed coalition launched an air campaign against the Houthis.

“The US ambassador to Muscat and a consular official met them upon arrival and will provide all possible consular assistance”.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry thanked the Omani government Sunday, adding that the USA government welcomed the hostages’ release and would keep pushing for the release of other detained Americans.

Last month, Douglas Robert Semple – a British hostage held by al-Qaeda in Yemen – was freed by United Arab Emirates forces operating in the southern port city of Aden. The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Gregory Rusovich, stated in a press release, “We can’t begin to precise the sense of joy & relief we really feel with Scott’s release”.

Darden’s wife, Diana Loesch, said she was leaving for Oman to be reunited with her husband.