French hostage in Yemen freed after more than 4 months

PARIS (AP) - France's president has announced the release of a French citizen held in hostage in Yemen for more than four months.

President Emmanuel Macron has congratulated all those who contributed to Alain Goma's release. Goma will be back in France soon.

Macron said Tuesday that he's grateful to Oman's sultan and authorities for their "decisive" role and Saudi authorities for their help.

French media reported that the 54-year-old Goma was on a sailing trip when damage on the ship forced him to dock in a Yemeni port in June, where he was held by rebels.

Yemen has been locked in a ruinous war pitting a Saudi-led coalition backing the government against Shiite rebels known as Houthis since March 2015.

An estimated 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict.