A Red Cross staffer freed after almost a year in captivity in Yemen was held for ransom not for political reasons, diplomatic sources in neighbouring Oman said yesterday.
Nourane Houas, 38, an employee of the humanitarian protection programme of the International Committee of the Red Cross, was abducted in the rebel-held capital last December.
The French-Tunisian dual national was released on Monday after mediation by Omani authorities.
Oman is the only Gulf Arab state that is not part of a Saudi-led coalition that has been battling the Houthi Shia rebels and their allies since March last year.
The sultanate has brokered several previous releases of foreigners held in Sanaa.
“It was a criminal operation for money,” one diplomatic source said, without specifying whether any ransom had been paid for the woman’s release.
“She is resting and will remain in Muscat for two to three days.”
ICRC spokeswoman Rima Kamal declined to be drawn on the identity or motives of the kidnappers.