At least four American citizens are reportedly being held by Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen, who recently toppled the internationally-recognised government in the country.
While the U.S. State Department refused to provide an exact number of the detainees, they confirmed that several Americans were being detained and added that it was doing everything to secure their release.
Citing unnamed sources, The Washington Post said that the four are believed to be kept in a jail in the capital of Sanaa and added that the attempts to free the hostages have failed so far.
The sources were also quoted as saying that three of the four prisoners held private sector jobs while, the fourth held a dual American-Yemeni citizenship.
Most of those held by the rebels were among the dozens of Americans who were unable to leave Yemen or who chose to remain in the country after the U.S. shut its embassy.
