A former Marine detained in Yemen for more than a year was released Sunday after diplomatic negotiations, senior American officials said.
The detainee, Wallead Yusuf Pitts Luqman, 37, was abducted in April 2015 as he tried to leave the country after having taught English there for two years. He was then held in secret by the Houthis, a Shiite rebel group.
An official said the Houthis had cleared him of wrongdoing in August before finally acknowledging that they were holding him, a key step in getting him home. He was flown to Oman after negotiations involving Secretary of State John Kerry.
You've reached your daily free article limit.
Subscribe and support our veteran writing staff to continue reading.
A former Marine detained in Yemen for more than a year was released Sunday after diplomatic negotiations, senior American officials said.
The detainee, Wallead Yusuf Pitts Luqman, 37, was abducted in April 2015 as he tried to leave the country after having taught English there for two years. He was then held in secret by the Houthis, a Shiite rebel group.
An official said the Houthis had cleared him of wrongdoing in August before finally acknowledging that they were holding him, a key step in getting him home. He was flown to Oman after negotiations involving Secretary of State John Kerry.
Last month, Mr. Luqman’s wife, Jihan Mohamed, went public with her husband’s abduction, hoping the move would help free him. She said members of the Houthi political security organization, one of Yemen’s two security agencies, had been holding her husband.
“They had no reason to take him, and there are no charges,” Ms. Mohamed said in a Facebook posting. “After months of not knowing his condition or where he was, I finally received proof of life this year.”
Read More- New York Times
Image courtesy of AFP
In Desperation, Scores of Ukrainian Women Turn to ‘Only Fans’ To Make Ends Meet
While California Burns, Thieves Steal Humvees, Other Military Equipment, From Army Reserve Center in LA County
Pete Hegseth’s Senate Confirmation Hearings: A Crucial Test for the Next Secretary of Defense
Japan Pushes Back F-35B Fighters Delivery Again
Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis.
TRY 14 DAYS FREEAlready a subscriber? Log In
COMMENTS
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.