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| U.S. Citizens Held in Yemen by Houthis | U.S. Citizens Held in Yemen by Houthis |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| CAIRO — Several American citizens are being detained in Yemen by the Houthis, a Shiite rebel group that controls the capital and parts of the country, a United States official said Sunday. | |
| The official did not immediately provide information about the Americans’ identities or details about their cases. One was detained about two weeks ago, according to family members. | The official did not immediately provide information about the Americans’ identities or details about their cases. One was detained about two weeks ago, according to family members. |
| The detainees were believed to be held in Sana, the capital, raising concerns about their safety. Security installations controlled by the Houthis in the city have come under repeated aerial bombardment by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia. | The detainees were believed to be held in Sana, the capital, raising concerns about their safety. Security installations controlled by the Houthis in the city have come under repeated aerial bombardment by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia. |
| The Washington Post, citing unidentified officials, reported Friday that at least four Americans were believed to be in Houthi custody in Sana. It said none worked for the United States government, and one was believed to hold dual Yemeni and American citizenship. | The Washington Post, citing unidentified officials, reported Friday that at least four Americans were believed to be in Houthi custody in Sana. It said none worked for the United States government, and one was believed to hold dual Yemeni and American citizenship. |
| The New York Times is withholding the name of the detainee taken into custody two weeks ago and other details of the case at the request of the family. | The New York Times is withholding the name of the detainee taken into custody two weeks ago and other details of the case at the request of the family. |
| State Department officials have said they are working to secure the release of the Americans, but those efforts appear to have been complicated by the fact that the United States and the Houthis are on opposite sides in the Yemeni conflict. The Obama administration has publicly supported the Saudi-led coalition, which began a military offensive to drive the Houthis from Sana and other cities in late March. | State Department officials have said they are working to secure the release of the Americans, but those efforts appear to have been complicated by the fact that the United States and the Houthis are on opposite sides in the Yemeni conflict. The Obama administration has publicly supported the Saudi-led coalition, which began a military offensive to drive the Houthis from Sana and other cities in late March. |
| The coalition has carried out thousands of airstrikes across Yemen, including weeks of daily air assaults in the capital. The United States has said it is providing logistical and intelligence support for the Saudi effort. | The coalition has carried out thousands of airstrikes across Yemen, including weeks of daily air assaults in the capital. The United States has said it is providing logistical and intelligence support for the Saudi effort. |
| Houthi leaders, who have long been sharply critical of the United States’ role in Yemen, have repeatedly expressed their anger at the Obama administration’s assistance in the war. | Houthi leaders, who have long been sharply critical of the United States’ role in Yemen, have repeatedly expressed their anger at the Obama administration’s assistance in the war. |
| Saudi officials have asserted that the goal of their military action was to restore Yemen’s president, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, whom the Houthis forced into exile. | Saudi officials have asserted that the goal of their military action was to restore Yemen’s president, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, whom the Houthis forced into exile. |
| A spokesman for Mr. Hadi’s government told Reuters on Sunday that senior Houthi leaders were holding talks with the United States in Oman, Yemen’s neighbor. But a senior Houthi leader denied the report, saying that the United States was not participating, but that the talks did include China and Russia, as well as Iran, whose government is allied with the Houthis. | A spokesman for Mr. Hadi’s government told Reuters on Sunday that senior Houthi leaders were holding talks with the United States in Oman, Yemen’s neighbor. But a senior Houthi leader denied the report, saying that the United States was not participating, but that the talks did include China and Russia, as well as Iran, whose government is allied with the Houthis. |
| Attempts at negotiations have faltered. Nearly 2,000 people have been killed, with no sign of a letup in fighting that has ravaged several Yemeni cities and displaced more than half a million people. The Saudi airstrikes have continued, despite criticism that the bombings have frequently killed civilians. | Attempts at negotiations have faltered. Nearly 2,000 people have been killed, with no sign of a letup in fighting that has ravaged several Yemeni cities and displaced more than half a million people. The Saudi airstrikes have continued, despite criticism that the bombings have frequently killed civilians. |
| Lawyers for Sharif Mobley, a fifth American detainee, who was arrested several years ago in Sana on terrorism charges, have raised concerns that the airstrikes have endangered their client. | Lawyers for Sharif Mobley, a fifth American detainee, who was arrested several years ago in Sana on terrorism charges, have raised concerns that the airstrikes have endangered their client. |
| The lawyers, with Reprieve, a rights group based in London, said they believed that Mr. Mobley was being held in a prison in a security forces base that was bombed last week by the Saudi-led coalition. Namir Shabibi, an investigator with Reprieve, said the group had asked American officials to tell their Saudi allies not to strike the facility. | The lawyers, with Reprieve, a rights group based in London, said they believed that Mr. Mobley was being held in a prison in a security forces base that was bombed last week by the Saudi-led coalition. Namir Shabibi, an investigator with Reprieve, said the group had asked American officials to tell their Saudi allies not to strike the facility. |
| Did the United States government “ignore our repeated pleas to tell the Saudis not to bomb it?” Mr. Shabibi wrote in an email. “Or did the Saudis ignore U.S. advice?” | Did the United States government “ignore our repeated pleas to tell the Saudis not to bomb it?” Mr. Shabibi wrote in an email. “Or did the Saudis ignore U.S. advice?” |