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President Donald Trump and his administration secured the release of two Americans this week who had been held hostage in Yemen.
With the nation’s attention riveted on the many political topics making headlines this week, this latest accomplishment of the Trump administration seemed to miss getting the attention it deserves. Two Americans, Sandra Loli and Mikael Gidada, who had been held captive by Houthis in Yemen, were freed this week in the exchange.
“We join all Americans in welcoming their newly regained freedom,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet on Wednesday.
Loli and Gidada, as well as the remains of a third hostage, Bilal Fateen, were released in the exchange which saw the return to Yemen of about 250 Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Oman.
(Source: Reuters)
“Today, we join with all Americans in welcoming the release of two U.S. citizens from Houthi custody in Yemen,” Pompeo said in a press release. “My deepest condolences go out to the family of a third American who died while in captivity, but whose remains are being repatriated.”
“Today’s news is the latest affirmation that President Trump remains committed to bringing every American held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad back home. This Administration will not rest until they are all reunited with their families,” he added.
Today, the @realdonaldtrump Administration secured the release of two American hostages held captive by Houthis in Yemen. We join all Americans in welcoming their newly regained freedom.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) October 14, 2020
Loli, an American humanitarian worker, had been held hostage for about three years while Gidada, an American businessman, was held for about a year, Kash Patel, a deputy assistant to Trump who worked on the deal, told The Wall Street Journal.
Roger Carstens, the special envoy for hostage affairs, worked on the deal in coordination with the White House, FBI, CIA and State Department. The militants were reportedly not on any American terrorism lists, according to Patel who said that any who were considered high-risk were blocked from being returned.
Criticisms and questions about the deal being a sort of prisoner exchange were dismissed by administration officials.
#AmericanHostages US secures release two Americans held by Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen + remains of third American. Senior Administration Official @CBSNews NOT a prisoner exchange, “The Omanis repatriated 200 + Houthis. They were not prisoners in any sense. They were
— Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) October 15, 2020
living freely in Oman. Many had been wounded in the war and went to Oman for treatment. The Omanis flew them back to Yemen as a humanitarian gesture…The Houthis released our hostages as a humanitarian gesture. We gave the Houthis ZERO – no prisoners and no cash. Of the over
— Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) October 15, 2020
Trump spoke in August at the opening night of the Republican National Convention in a taped video with six former hostages who were freed through his efforts. Over 50 Americans held in 22 countries had their freedom secured by the administration, Trump noted at the time.
(Source: Associated Press)
The latest news of the Americans returned from Yemen was celebrated on Twitter where the president was praised for his commitment.
Trump frees American hostages trapped in Yemen. https://t.co/yIcvmipJGt
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) October 14, 2020
This is awesome news! Wish it was getting more coverage because this shows my President’s heart.
— Sharla Jones (@sharlajones) October 16, 2020
Outstanding! Another accomplishment that the MSM will ignore. Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. Period!
— AmericanPatriot (@America79371004) October 16, 2020
If I was ever held hostage, I know who I’d want to be in the White House.
— Based Abdi 🇺🇸 (@AbdiPopulist) October 14, 2020
No appreciation from the idiotic left
— Freedom Analysis 🎃 (@FREEDOMANALYSIS) October 14, 2020
Well done @POTUS – well done! 👍👍👍👏👏👏
— eas (@1983EAS) October 15, 2020
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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