Former U.S. Marine held by Yemen is released, returns to family

One of the American captives freed after being held in Yemen for months has been reunited with his family.

Former U.S. Marine Sam Farran was met by family and supporters at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Tuesday night as he stepped on U.S. soil for the first time since he was taken captive in March. The Dearborn Heights man had been detained in the Yemeni capital Sanaa by Shiite Houthi rebels fighting against government forces.

Speaking to reporters at the airport, Farran thanked everyone for support and said he spent his time in captivity thinking of when he would see his family.

"For the past six months, that's all I did, is I paced that cell — which was 5 by 12," Farran said. "I paced it back and forth thinking about this moment when I'm going to see them."

"I'm very happy to be home," he said.

Farran, a 54-year-old security consultant, was released over the weekend with Scott Darden, another American detainee.

An administration official told NBC News securing their release was complicated, given the lack of cooperation from the Houthi rebels, as well as the violence and instability in the region. The recently created Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, led by the FBI, helped with the effort, according to the official.

At least one American remains held in Yemen.