ICRC supports release of 153 government soldiers held by Houthis

The Yemeni Houthi rebel group, Ansar Allah, has unilaterally released 153 prisoners of war who had fought against the rebels alongside government forces.

The release, supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), was confirmed in a statement published by the organization on its official website, Caliber.Az reports, citing international media agencies.

"Today, 153 conflict-related detainees were released in Sana'a. This unilateral initiative by the National Committee for Prisoners' Affairs, which is controlled by the Houthis, was carried out with the support of the ICRC team," the statement read. "The prisoners had been regularly visited by the ICRC in Sana'a as part of our efforts to ensure humane treatment and proper conditions for all those detained in connection with the conflict."

The ICRC also mentioned that its medical staff assessed the health of the released prisoners before their release and arranged transportation for those requiring medical attention. Additionally, the ICRC held private interviews with the detainees to confirm their identities and inform their families about their upcoming release. The released Yemeni soldiers are expected to be transferred to areas controlled by the internationally recognized Yemeni government.

Earlier, Abdel Qader al-Murtada, the head of the Ansar Allah prisoners' committee, announced that dozens of prisoners from the opposing side would be released on Saturday. He stated that the release was ordered by Ansar Allah’s leader, Abdel Malik al-Houthis, and the head of the movement’s supreme political council, Mahdi al-Mashat.

In a similar move, the Houthis released 113 prisoners of war from government forces on May 26, 2024, as part of a “unilateral humanitarian initiative.” These prisoners were handed over to ICRC representatives in Sana'a, which is under Houthi control.

The ongoing conflict between government forces and the Ansar Allah movement has been raging in Yemen since August 2014, with a significant escalation in March 2015 when a Saudi-led coalition intervened. The war has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen, affecting millions of people across the country.

By Tamilla Hasanova