29-04-2024 04:55 AM Jerusalem Timing

French Hostage in Yemen Released

French Hostage in Yemen Released

Frenchwoman Isabelle Prime, who has been freed after nearly six months of captivity in Yemen, arrived in Oman on Friday

Frenchwoman Isabelle Prime, who has been freed after nearly six months of captivity in Yemen, arrived in Oman on Friday before she returns to Paris to be welcomed by her "unbelievably happy" father.

The 30-year-old, who worked as a consultant on a World Bank-funded project in Yemen, was released late Thursday, according to a statement by the French presidency, and was poised to return to France as soon as possible.

Frenchwoman Isabelle PrimeShe is currently under French protection, the statement said, without giving further detail on when or where she would arrive back in the country.

There is no confirmation yet on the identity of her kidnappers.

The official ONA news agency in Oman said she arrived there early Friday from Yemen.

The Omani foreign ministry said efforts by the Gulf nation "in coordination with certain Yemeni parties" had helped track her down.

"I'm unbelievably happy. She's in good health but I don't have any further details," her father Jean-Noel told AFP.

He said he was leaving "pretty quickly" from Angers in western France, to travel the 300 kilometers to the French capital to welcome his daughter home.

Isabelle was seized with her translator on February 24 as they were driving to work in the capital Sanaa. Her translator Sherine Makkaoui was freed in March.

France has made "every effort to achieve this happy outcome", the presidency statement said, adding that Paris "expresses its gratitude to all those who worked on this solution, including the Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, Sultan of Oman".

President Francois Hollande "shares the joy of the family of Isabelle, who have demonstrated great courage and great responsibility during the long wait", it said.