2 Saudi soldiers missing in Yemen, likely captured by Houthis

Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday that two Saudi soldiers were missing after they lost their way inside the Yemeni territories, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Initial details indicate that they were captured by Houthis, the report added.

The two soldiers were part of a Saudi-led coalition against Houthis to protect the legitimacy of Yemeni government headed by the President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who just returned to Aden Tuesday after spending months in exile in Riyadh.

The Coalition Forces' Spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed bin Hassan Asiri highlighted in a press statement that the evidences indicate they were alive and detained by the Houthi militias.

Asiri called upon the militia to respect the Geneva Convention and not to use their images in the media, pointing out that the militias are responsible for maintaining their lives.

Meanwhile, Asiri assured the families of the two soldiers, stressing that the coalition is currently exerting efforts to bring them back to the Kingdom as soon as possible.

They are the first officially announced captives held by Houthis since the beginning of the war on March 26.

Houthis have released some foreign hostages, including three Americans, two Saudis and one Briton who flew to Oman Monday after being held hostage for months. Enditem