Hostages

Manning's commitment comes in response to the recent release of hostages from Walagu village who were held captive for over five days until a ransom of K2,000 and five pigs was paid by the villagers.

The hostages, all females, were successfully released on Saturday afternoon and have since returned to their village. Eleven of the victims have been flown to Moro for medical checks and are receiving ongoing support from security forces to aid in their recovery. A medical team from St. Johns has also been dispatched via helicopter to assist in the medical examinations.

Four hostages -- employees of the Iraqi North Oil Company -- were taken captive after four attackers, believed to be wearing suicide vests, stormed the Bai Hassan oil field northwest of Kirkuk on Sunday, the source said.

One of the attackers blew himself up when security forces responded. The other attackers were later killed by security forces.

The ISIS-affiliated Amaq news agency released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, which was widely circulated by the terror group's supporters on social media networks.

Houthi officials and officials at the airport in the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters, said three Americans, two Saudis and a British national detained earlier this year were released and flown to Oman.