A Shi'ite Houthi mans a weapon on the back of a patrol truck, as Ansar al-Sharia flags are seen in the background, along a road in Almnash, the main stronghold of Ansar al-Sharia, in Rada November 22, 2014 (Photo: Reuters)
A US soldier was freed Tuesday by Yemeni forces just hours after being captured in an Al-Qaeda attack on an air base in the violence-wracked country, military officials said.
The American was seized along with seven Yemeni soldiers in the militant assault on Al-Anad air base, in Lahij province, an official said.
Yemeni forces launched a dawn raid to free the hostages, killing seven kidnappers.
A member of the security forces was reported to have been lightly wounded during the rescue.
The militants captured seven soldiers on guard during the night before advancing into the base and seizing the US soldier, the official said.
Yemen is a key US ally in the fight against Al-Qaeda, allowing Washington to conduct a longstanding drone war against the group on its territory.
Yemeni officials acknowledge that Washington has deployed personnel at Al-Anad air base to gather intelligence for the drone strikes.
Al-Qaeda has exploited instability in the impoverished country since a 2011 uprising overthrew president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The US embassy in Sanaa declined to comment.
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