Iran-backed Houthi rebels detain Yemenis working for US Embassy, compound breached
Houthi rebels backed by Iran continue to hold Yemeni employees of the U.S. government hostage, the State Department confirmed Thursday.
Earlier this week reports surfaced that showed 25 Yemenis in Yemen's largest city of Sana’a, who worked for the U.S. Embassy and USAID, had been arbitrarily detained by the rebel group.
A State Department spokesman told Fox News the "majority" of the hostages have been released, but that embassy staff "continue to be detained without explanation."
"We have been unceasing in our behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts to secure their release," press secretary Ned Price told reporters Thursday. "We’ve seen some progress, and we’re continuing to work this critical issue."
The U.S. closed its Yemen embassy in 2015 amid a violent civil war that has since led to the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world, according to the United Nations.
Though while American diplomats were sent stateside, some Yemeni staff continued to work from home or as security guards at the embassy, Bloomberg reported.
It remains unclear which members of the embassy staff have been arrested by the rebel group, but the compound has also been breached, according to a State Department spokesperson.
"We call on the Houthis to immediately vacate it and return all seized property," the spokesman said. "The U.S. government will continue its diplomatic efforts to secure the release of our staff and the vacating of our compound, including through our international partners."
http://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-backed-houthi-rebels-detain-yemenis-working-for-us-embassy-compound-breached
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