Kidnapped UN employees freed after 18 months

The United Nations said on Friday that its employees had been freed. The employees were kidnapped in February of 2022 in Yemen by suspected al-Qaeda militants. Four of the kidnapped employees were male Yemeni nationals, and one of them was a Bangladeshi citizen. The UN said the men are in good health and good spirits despite going through a difficult time. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014 when Houthi insurgents took over its capital of Sana’a.

Are kidnappings common in Yemen? The U.S. State Department says there is a high risk of kidnappings and detention of American citizens who visit Yemen. In advisory against travel, the state department advises visitors to “draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries.” The civil war is between Houthis, backed by Iran, and forces loyal to the government of Yemen, who are backed by Saudi Arabia.

Dig deeper: Read Jennie Lind Schmitt’s report in WORLD Magazine about ISIS wives who return home.