At least 14 Iranian fishermen held in Al Shabaab captivity for eight years have been released, according to Iranian state media.
Iranian government-affiliated media reported on Saturday that the 14 fishermen, who are citizens of Chabahar in southeast Iran on the Sea of Oman, were released through the efforts of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It is unclear if the Ministry negotiated with the militants directly.
The men were reportedly captured by Al Shabaab fighters in international waters close to Somalia in 2014.
Following their release, the men will briefly stop in Mogadishu before arriving at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport on Sunday.
The fishermen are the latest Iranian hostages released after spending years in captivity in Somalia.
In August 2020, three Iranian fisherman held by Somali pirates since 2015 were freed after a $180,000 ransom was paid.
