Bahrain announces the return of its five citizens detained in Yemen since last August

The Bahraini Ministry of Interior announced on Friday the return of its five citizens who were "detained for security reasons" in the Yemeni province of Marib, early last August.

"The efforts and follow-ups carried out by the Ministry of Interior during the recent period resulted in the return of the five Bahraini citizens arrested in Yemen yesterday (Thursday) to the country," she said in a statement published by the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

The Bahraini Interior Ministry praised in its statement "the constructive cooperation shown by the official authorities in the Republic of Yemen."

The statement indicated that "the five citizens were detained in Yemen last August for security reasons, and since then the competent authorities have begun their contacts with the official authorities in the Republic of Yemen, within the framework of security cooperation and coordination."

He said, "Legal measures are currently being taken with the five citizens, and the necessary procedures are being completed to ensure their safety and public security."

According to Bahraini media, the five detainees (Fadhel Abbas Mohammed Abdul Rasoul, the brothers Hadi and Mahdi Zakaria Mahdi Abdul Rasoul, Ali Hussein Saleh Hassan, and Mahmoud Fouad Ibrahim) had entered Yemeni territory via the Sultanate of Oman last August, and were arrested by the security authorities in Marib after entering a prohibited military zone.

While Bahraini MPs disclosed in media statements that the detainees were on a tourist trip and entered a prohibited military area while losing their way, security sources in Marib suggested that the detainees were on their way to Sanaa, which is under the control of the Houthi militia.