The identities of the prisoners have not been revealed.
Yemen’s Houthis have unilaterally released 153 prisoners of war to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the non-governmental organization and rebel group have confirmed.
The “conflict-related detainees” were released on Saturday in the capital, Sanaa, and received regular visits from the ICRC as part of its detention work to ensure humane treatment of war-related prisoners, according to the organization .
The identities of the prisoners have not been revealed.
“This operation brought much-deserved relief and joy to families who were eagerly awaiting the return of their loved ones. We know that many other families are also waiting for their chance to be reunited. We hope that today’s release will lead to many more moments like this,” said Christine Cipolla, head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen.
Abdul Qader al-Murtada, head of the Houthis’ Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs, said in a statement published by Houthi-affiliated media that those released were “humanitarian cases” including the sick, wounded and elderly.
“The aim of this initiative is to build trust and establish a new phase of serious and honest dealings,” al-Murtada said.
The ICRC welcomed the move as “another positive step towards resuming negotiations” within a framework agreed during the civil war that raged for years between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition.
The war has claimed more than 150,000 lives and created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, which continues today, with more than 18 million people in need of assistance across Yemen.
Saturday’s releases come as the Houthis continue to detain personnel working with the United Nations.
Seven UN staff members were arrested on Friday, according to the organization, which called for their immediate release.
The UN also suspended all travel to Houthi-controlled areas following the arrests until further notice.
Eleven other UN staff members were arrested last June, followed by the seizure of the Human Rights Office in the Yemeni capital in August.
The Red Cross has already contributed to the release of prisoners, notably as part of an exchange of around 1,000 prisoners in 2020. Another exchange enabled the release of around 800 detainees in 2023, including more than 100 in May last.
