AMMAN, Jordan — Yemen’s internationally acknowledged authorities and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Thursday reached a deal to free over 1,600 detainees within the largest swap throughout Yemen’s 11-year civil warfare.
The deal was signed in Amman, Jordan, after 14 weeks of negotiations, with U.N. officers and the Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross current as observers.
Abdelkader al-Murtada, the Houthi head of the Nationwide Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs, who was concerned within the talks, mentioned that 1,100 of the virtually 1,700 detainees are Houthi affiliated, whereas seven Saudis and 20 Sudanese are among the many 580 detainees that can be launched by the opposite aspect.
The top of the federal government delegation, Yahya Kazman, mentioned in a publish on X {that a} “variety of politicians and media professionals” held by the Houthis may also be launched. He didn’t give particulars.
U.N. Particular Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg mentioned the deal lined the most important launch of “conflict-related detainees.” The ICRC in a press release mentioned either side agreed on the identities of the detainees to be launched, and added that the Geneva-based group is able to facilitate their repatriation.
It was not instantly clear when the discharge will begin.
The settlement builds on negotiations held in Oman in December 2025, Grundberg mentioned. Either side on the time mentioned the discharge of two,900 detainees.
Yemen plunged into civil warfare in 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and far of northern Yemen and compelled the federal government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition, together with the United Arab Emirates, intervened the next 12 months in an try to revive the federal government to energy.
The battle has pushed the economic system to the brink of collapse and prompted “extreme” meals insecurity in northern provinces, in keeping with the World Meals Program.
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Chehayeb reported from Beirut.
