Two American hostages who had been held by Houthi rebels in Yemen are free and en route to neighboring Oman, a senior administration official told CNN on Sunday. They are in Omani custody on an Omani government plane, the official said.
A third American who was believed held by the Houthis was not released, and it’s unclear who has him, the senior administration official told CNN.
Earlier, a diplomat in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa said six foreign hostages — three Americans, two Saudis and one Briton — would be flown to Oman.
One of the freed Americans was identified as Scott Darden, a 45-year-old employee of the New Orleans-based company Transoceanic Development, who was taken hostage by Houthi rebels in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, in March, the U.S. administration official said. The official identified the other released hostage as Sam Farran.
Their release was negotiated by the Omanis, the official said.