British hostage rescued in Yemen after operation by UAE forces

A British hostage has been freed in Yemen following an operation by United Arab Emirates forces, the Foreign Office in London announced on Sunday.

“I’m pleased to confirm that a British hostage held in Yemen has been extracted by United Arab Emirates forces in a military intelligence operation,” Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in a 

statement.

Hammond added that the freed hostage was “safe and well” and that Britain was “very grateful for the assistance of the UAE”.

The statement did not identify the person or give any further details of the operation to free them.

Yemen has been wracked by conflict since <g data-gr-id="22">March,</g> when a Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes against Iranian-backed <g data-gr-id="19">Huthi</g> rebels.

Yemeni loyalists are backed by countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The war has killed nearly 4,500 people, many of them civilians, according to the United Nations. Last year, British teacher Mike Harvey was released after being held for five months in Yemen following negotiations by the government in Sanaa.