Yemeni government, Houthis reach deal to swap 2,900 prisoners

The Yemeni government and the Houthi group have reached an agreement to exchange 2,900 prisoners and detainees following consultations held in the Omani capital, Muscat, undisclosed sources told Al Hadath.

Under the agreement, reached during talks conducted under United Nations auspices and with the support of Oman, the Yemeni government will release approximately 1,700 Houthi prisoners. In return, the Houthis are set to free around 1,200 prisoners and detainees held by the group.

Sources described the inclusion of Islah Party leader Mohammed Qahtan among those to be released by the Houthis as a significant breakthrough in the long-standing prisoners’ file.

The agreement is part of broader efforts aimed at easing humanitarian tensions and advancing the political settlement process in Yemen, the sources said.

A member of the Yemeni government delegation involved in the negotiations told Al Hadath that Saudi Arabia’s efforts played a key role in removing obstacles that had previously hindered the implementation of the prisoner exchange deal.

By Khagan Isayev