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British hostage freed by UAE forces in Yemen British hostage freed by UAE forces in Yemen
(about 1 hour later)
A British national held hostage in Yemen has been freed by United Arab Emirates forces, Philip Hammond has confirmed.A British national held hostage in Yemen has been freed by United Arab Emirates forces, Philip Hammond has confirmed.
The United Arab Emirates said its military freed Douglas Robert Semple, 64, who was kidnapped 18 months ago by al-Qaida in Yemen.The United Arab Emirates said its military freed Douglas Robert Semple, 64, who was kidnapped 18 months ago by al-Qaida in Yemen.
A statement carried by the UAE’s official WAM news agency said the petroleum engineer 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. A statement carried by the UAE’s official WAM news agency said the petroleum engineer 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.
It was not clear where in Yemen Semple had been held and the UAE did not provide any details on the rescue operation. He was greeted at the airport by the British ambassador and taken for medical checks at a hospital, the statement said.
Semple has spoken to his wife by telephone and will return to the UK after the medical checks have been completed, the news agency said.
It was not clear where in Yemen he had been held and the UAE did not provide any details on the rescue operation.
The UAE is part of the Saudi-led and US-backed coalition that has been launching air strikes against Shia rebels in Yemen since March.The UAE is part of the Saudi-led and US-backed coalition that has been launching air strikes against Shia rebels in Yemen since March.
The 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, adding that the government was “very grateful for the assistance of the UAE”.The 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, adding that the government was “very grateful for the assistance of the UAE”.
The UAE’s official statement said Semple had been working as a petroleum engineer in the Yemeni province of Hadramawt when he was kidnapped in February 2014.The UAE’s official statement said Semple had been working as a petroleum engineer in the Yemeni province of Hadramawt when he was kidnapped in February 2014.
The WAM statement said the Abu Dhabi crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, called David Cameron on Saturday night to inform him of the operation.The WAM statement said the Abu Dhabi crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, called David Cameron on Saturday night to inform him of the operation.
Al-Qaida has been making inroads amid the chaos of Yemen’s civil war. Yemeni security officials said on Saturday that al-Qaida militants seized control of key areas in and around Aden and are expanding there in the wake of fighting between the Shia rebels known as Houthis and an array of anti-rebel forces backed by Saudi Arabia.Al-Qaida has been making inroads amid the chaos of Yemen’s civil war. Yemeni security officials said on Saturday that al-Qaida militants seized control of key areas in and around Aden and are expanding there in the wake of fighting between the Shia rebels known as Houthis and an array of anti-rebel forces backed by Saudi Arabia.
Backed by heavy air strikes, anti-rebel forces pushed the Houthis out of Aden last month. The Houthis overran the capital of Sana’a last year and eventually forced the Yemeni president into exile in Saudi Arabia.Backed by heavy air strikes, anti-rebel forces pushed the Houthis out of Aden last month. The Houthis overran the capital of Sana’a last year and eventually forced the Yemeni president into exile in Saudi Arabia.
Washington considers al-Qaida’s Yemen branch to be the most dangerous offshoot of the global terrorist network and has repeatedly targeted it with drone strikes.Washington considers al-Qaida’s Yemen branch to be the most dangerous offshoot of the global terrorist network and has repeatedly targeted it with drone strikes.