Yemen’s sides agree to release 2,900 detainees in war’s largest exchange

Yemen’s warring parties have agreed to release nearly 3,000 detainees in what represents the largest prisoner swap since the conflict began 11 years ago, marking a significant humanitarian breakthrough amid the protracted civil war.

The landmark agreement, brokered in Muscat, Oman, will see the internationally recognized Yemeni government and Iran-backed Houthi rebels free approximately 2,900 detainees, according to Saudi and Houthi officials. The deal was reached under the supervision of the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Saudi Ambassador Mohamed AlJabir announced the development on social media platform X, praising negotiators from both sides for addressing “a humanitarian issue” that could help “strengthen efforts to bring calm and build confidence in Yemen.” The arrangement includes the release of foreign nationals, with Houthi officials confirming that seven Saudi and 23 Sudanese detainees are among those to be freed.

“We are ready and determined to carry out the release, transfer and repatriation of detainees so that people separated from their families can be reunited in a safe and dignified manner,” said Christine Cipolla, who leads the ICRC delegation in Yemen. The organization will serve as the primary facilitator for the prisoner transfers, continuing its intermediary role established under the 2018 Stockholm Agreement.

This latest prisoner swap emerges from a 12-day negotiation session in Oman — the tenth such meeting aimed at implementing commitments made under the Stockholm Agreement, which obligates all parties to release conflict-related detainees. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg characterized the agreement as “a positive and meaningful step that will hopefully ease the suffering of detainees and their families across Yemen.”

The deal represents the largest exchange of prisoners during Yemen’s devastating civil war, surpassing previous swaps that included more than 800 detainees in 2023 and over 1,000 in October 2020.

Yemen has endured more than a decade of conflict since 2014, when Houthi rebels seized the capital Sanaa and most of northern Yemen, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee. In response, a Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015, creating what would become one of the world’s most complex proxy conflicts, drawing in regional powers with competing interests.

The war has had catastrophic consequences for Yemen’s 30 million citizens. More than 150,000 people have lost their lives in the fighting, including both combatants and civilians. The conflict has also created what the United Nations describes as one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, with millions facing acute food insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and widespread displacement.

While the prisoner exchange marks a positive development, Yemen’s path to lasting peace remains fraught with challenges. The conflict has largely reached a military stalemate in recent years, though periodic violence continues to impact civilians. Regional dynamics further complicate peace efforts, with Iran supporting the Houthis while Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates back the recognized government.

This agreement comes at a time when Saudi Arabia has been seeking to extricate itself from the costly war, engaging in direct talks with Houthi representatives since 2022. The kingdom has expressed willingness to end its military campaign in exchange for border security guarantees and a political process that could lead to a more inclusive Yemeni government.

For ordinary Yemenis, particularly the families of those detained, the prisoner swap offers a rare moment of hope amid the enduring crisis. The implementation of this agreement could potentially build momentum for broader peace initiatives in a country desperately in need of stability and recovery.