Yemen agrees on largest prisoner exchange in 11 years of war
Illustrative photo: Houthi fighters (Getty Images)
In Yemen, the internationally recognized government and Houthi rebels have agreed to release 2,900 prisoners in the largest exchange in 11 years of war, Saudi Ambassador Mohamed AlJabir announced this, according to AP.
It has been reported that Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have agreed to the largest prisoner exchange in the country’s 11-year civil war, with 2,900 detainees expected to be released.
Saudi Ambassador Mohamed AlJabir stated that the exchange will allow prisoners to return to their families and represents an important step toward building trust and stability in the country.
According to Saudi and Houthi officials, the agreement was signed under the supervision of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen’s Office and the International Committee of the Red Cross. It was reached after 12 days of negotiations in Oman’s capital, Muscat, marking the tenth attempt by the parties to implement the 2018 Stockholm Agreement on the release of all detainees.
Among those to be released are citizens of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan.
Abdelkader al-Murtada, head of the Houthi National Committee for Prisoners, said the agreement includes the release of Yemeni nationals, seven Saudi citizens, and 23 Sudanese citizens.
UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg called the agreement a "positive and meaningful step" that will help alleviate the suffering of prisoners and their families.
Christine Cipolla, head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen, said the organization is ready to ensure the safe and dignified reunification of released prisoners with their families.
What is known about the civil war in Yemen
The civil war in Yemen has been ongoing since 2014, when the Shiite Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sana’a, and most of the northern territories.
The internationally recognized government of Yemen was forced to retreat to the south, where it is supported by a coalition of Arab states led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The war has claimed over 150,000 lives and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
In July 2025, the US imposed sanctions on companies cooperating with the Houthis. According to the US Treasury, the Houthis receive hundreds of millions of dollars annually by taxing fuel imports to the territories they control in Yemen.
Previously, US President Donald Trump announced that the US had launched large-scale military strikes on dozens of targets in Yemen.
