"UN Celebrates Release of 5 Kidnapped Staff Members in Yemen"

Five United Nations staff members who were kidnapped in Yemen 18 months ago have been released and are in good health, according to a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The identities of the kidnappers were not revealed. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been active in southern Yemen and is considered one of the most dangerous branches of the global network. Kidnappings are frequent in Yemen, where armed tribesmen and groups often take hostages for ransom or prisoner exchanges. The country's ongoing civil war has allowed AQAP to strengthen its presence.