UAE troops rescue British hostage in Yemen

Forces from the United Arab Emirates have rescued a British hostage held for more than 18 months by Al-Qaeda in Yemen, authorities in Abu Dhabi and London said on Sunday.

Robert Douglas Semple, a 64-year-old oil worker, had been kidnapped by Al-Qaeda in February 2014 while working in Yemen’s Hadramawt province, a stronghold of the jihadist group, a statement carried by the UAE’s official WAM news agency said.

It said that UAE forces freed Semple in a military operation on Saturday and took him to Yemen’s main southern city of Aden, from where he was flown to Abu Dhabi overnight.

Emirati forces are among troops taking part in a Saudi-led campaign supporting Yemen’s government against Iran-backed rebels.

The statement provided no details about the operation or where Semple had been held.

The Foreign Office in London confirmed that a British hostage in Yemen had been freed by UAE forces but did not identify him and also provided no further details.

“I’m pleased to confirm that a British hostage held in Yemen has been extracted by UAE forces in a military intelligence operation,” Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement released while he was in Tehran to reopen the British embassy.

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

The statement carried by WAM said Semple had been met at the airport in Abu Dhabi by UAE officials and the British ambassador.

He was taken to hospital for health checks and spoke to his wife by telephone, it said. He was to leave for Britain following the medical checks.

WAM said Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan had telephoned British Prime Minister David Cameron on Saturday night to inform him of the operation.

Cameron later Tweeted: “I’m so pleased for the family of the British hostage in Yemen — who has been released safe and well. Thanks to the UAE for their help.”