Yemen's Shiite Houthi rebels release 6 foreigners

Yemen's Shiite Houthi rebels on Sunday released six foreigners who had been held for about six months after mediation of the Omani authorities, Yemeni officials said.

"A plane carrying a Houthi delegation left Sanaa airport for Oman's capital of Muscat with six foreigners, including three Americans, two Saudis and one British citizen, after about six months in captivity," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Houthi officials refused to comment on the report or gave reasons for why they were arrested, but a security official said one American was a journalist and was arrested in March by the rebels for "illegally entering Yemen."

He said Oman mediated and secured the release.

Sources close to the Houthis confirmed to Xinhua that a delegation of senior Houthi officials are expected to meet the United Nations special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in Oman.

The Shiite Houthi group has controlled half of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since September 2014. Almost all foreigners have left Yemen after the Saudi-led Arab coalition started air raids against the Houthis on March 26.

The coalition said its military operations aim to restore Hadi's authority in the country.

Pro-government forces, backed by troops and armored vehicles from the coalition, have recaptured five southern provinces including the southern city port of Aden since July. They launched fierce airstrikes in Sanaa recently as their troops are advancing to the capital.