Yemen: Houthis Release Three Western Hostages

The Houthi group in Yemen has released three Westerners who had been held in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa for months, U.S. officials report.

The three hostages, two from the U.S. and one from the United Kingdom, were freed with the help of the Sultan of Oman. A third U.S. hostage remains.

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One of the U.S. hostages has been identified as 45-year-old logistics employee Scott Darden.

Overall, more than 1,500 civilians are estimated to have been killed in Yemen's civil war. Along with fighting between rival Yemeni factions, the country is also facing an intervention led by its neighbor, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia and its allies have backed ousted Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, who was removed from power by the Houthis earlier this year.

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The conflict in the country between pro-government forces and rebels escalated in March when Saudi Arabia and 10 of its regional allies started bombing Yemen, aided by United States' logistical and intelligence support.

The Saudis have demanded the Houthi hand back power to Hadi, though the movement remains in control of much of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

Watch below, our episode of Imaginary Lines: Yemen in Chaos and Crisis