According to an Indian foreign minister, a priest that was abducted by Islamic State militants in Yemen last year has been released.

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj made the announcement of Fr Tom's release in a tweet on Tuesday that read: "I am happy to inform that Fr Tom has been rescued."

Father Tom Uzhunnalil is now free.
He is now at Oman.
He is weak, says embassy people.
Big relief. pic.twitter.com/PwD2TBdIXp

— Savithri Thekkumpat (@ammusavithri) September 12, 2017

According to The Salesian Information Agency, Fr Tom will go to Rome where he will get medical treatment after being imprisoned for a year and half.

He was kidnapped when gunmen destroyed a care home he was serving at run by nuns in the capital Aden. Four nuns and 12 others were murdered in the attack.

The Indian priest later emerged in a video last December, begging for his life. The video confirmed he was in very poor health. He claimed authorities would've made greater efforts to release him if he was a European rather than Indian priest.

The Salesians of Bangalore, a Catholic order in India, said in a statement via news agency ANS: "We are deeply distressed by the delay in assuring his release."

Pope Francis has previously appealed for the release of Fr Tom.