Muscat: A US citizen who was in captivity for more than a year and a half by the Houthi faction in Yemen has been released.
Wallead Yusuf Pitts Luqman was released and transferred to the Sultanate aboard the same flight by the Royal Air Force of Oman, in preparation for his return to his country.
"The move is in implementation of the royal directives of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said to meet a request by the US government to continue to assist it about its citizens in custody in Yemen, and after coordination with the concerned authorities in Sanaa", said a statement posted on the official Oman News Agency.
News reports have described Luqman as a former U.S. Marine who was abducted in April 2015 while trying to leave Yemen, where he had been teaching English.
Following the release of two U.S. citizens from Yemen on Oct. 15, a woman who identified herself as Luqman's wife urged his release.
A senior State Department official said Kerry was personally involved in securing Luqman's release, working closely with Omani officials and meeting with Luqman's family a few weeks ago to update them on his efforts.