The White House announced on Wednesday the release of two Americans who had been held by the Houthis in Yemen, as part of a swap deal sponsored by the United States that also included the release of more than 200 members of the group who are in the Sultanate of Oman.

"The United States welcomes the release of citizens Sandra Lawley and Michael Gedada (...) We extend our condolences to the family of Bilal Fateen, whose body will also be returned to the homeland," said the US President's National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien in a statement.

Cash Patel, one of US President Donald Trump's endeavors who worked to complete the exchange, said that the deal secured the release of Sandra Lawley, an American humanitarian aid worker who was held hostage by the Houthi group for nearly 3 years, according to the American Wall Street Journal.

He added that the second hostage was an American businessman, Michael Gedada, who was held by the group for nearly a year.

The deal also included the return of the remains of Bilal Fateen, a third American who had been detained by the Houthis.

The Houthi group confirmed the return of 240 operatives to the capital, Sanaa, as part of the swap deal (Reuters)

Details and information

The Wall Street Journal reported that an Air Force plane in the Sultanate of Oman transported two Americans and the remains of a third American from the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, controlled by the Houthis, hours after the plane brought back hundreds of militants affiliated with the group to Yemen after they spent years stranded in Oman.

While US officials provided limited information about the three Americans, they said they were working quickly to secure the deal because Sandra Lawley's health was deteriorating.

It is noteworthy that the deal included the delivery of medical aid to Yemen.

For their part, the Houthis confirmed the return of 240 of their supporters to Sanaa after they were stuck in the Sultanate of Oman, which often plays the role of mediator in regional conflicts.

"With the grace of God and his help, about 240 people of the homeland have arrived in Sana'a, between wounded and stranded on board two Omani planes," Houthi spokesman Muhammad Abdul Salam said on his Twitter account.

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq directed the relevant authorities to assist in the release of a number of American citizens in Yemen (Al-Jazeera)

Thanks and endeavors

It is noteworthy that the White House thanked the Sultanate of Oman and Saudi Arabia "for their efforts to allow the release" of the Americans.

For his part, Omani TV said that Sultan Haitham bin Tariq had directed the relevant authorities in the Sultanate to assist in the release of a number of American citizens in Yemen, to complement the humanitarian and political endeavors of the Sultanate.

The same source indicated that the authorities in Sana'a responded to the Sultanate’s efforts and agreed to release the Americans and transfer them to the Sultanate on flights belonging to the Royal Oman Air Force, in preparation for their return to their country.

And Omani TV pointed out that the number of Yemenis who returned to the capital, Sanaa, reached 250, explaining that they were receiving treatment in the Sultanate and abroad.