Yemen-bound plane carrying rebel prisoners leaves Saudi

Gulf Today Report

A flight carrying Houthi rebel prisoners of war left Saudi Arabia on Saturday bound for Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.

The flight from the southern Saudi city of Abha took off before 9am (0600 GMT) carrying 120 former detainees, ICRC spokeswoman Jessica Moussan said, part of a multi-day exchange involving nearly 900 prisoners.

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Earlier, an exchange of more than 800 prisoners linked to Yemen’s long-running war began on Friday, the International Committee for the Red Cross said.

The United Nations-brokered deal, in the works for months, comes amid concerted diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict.

Freed prisoners gesture as they disembark at Sanaa Airport in Sanaa, Yemen, on Saturday. Reuters

The three-day operation will be the most significant prisoner exchange in Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition and their rivals, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, released more than 1,000 detainees in October 2020.

Thousands of people are still believed to be held as prisoners of war since the conflict erupted, with others missing. But Fabrizio Carboni, the Red Cross’ regional director, said the release "gives a sense of momentum” for efforts to end the war.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the swap of about 900 conflict-related detainees in the Yemeni war, said his spokesman.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a meeting. File photo

"The Secretary-General joins the (UN) Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, today welcoming the start of the release operation of conflict-related detainees. Nearly 900 are being released by the parties over three days, starting today," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, on Friday.

The swap comes under the implementation of the plan agreed by the parties at the last meeting of the Supervisory Committee on the Detainees' Exchange Agreement, which took place in March in Switzerland, he added.

The Supervisory Committee is co-chaired by the office of the UN special envoy and the International Committee of the Red Cross with the parties as members, Xinhua news agency reported.

This photo shows a Yemeni Houthi rebel prisoner being carried by medics upon his arrival at Sanaa airport. AFP

The parties have committed to meeting again in May to organise more releases, said the spokesman.

Grundberg said that this release operation comes at a time of hope for Yemen. He urged the parties to immediately and unconditionally release all arbitrarily detained individuals, Dujarric added.

Asked whether the special envoy and the Secretary-General believe there are prospects of a broader and permanent deal in Yemen by Eid al-Fitr on April 21, the spokesman said that making calendar predictions is a dangerous game.

"That is not to underestimate the importance of what is happening today and over the next two days, as well as the talks we've seen hosted by the Omani authorities. It is all very hopeful. But it demands a continued political determination from all the parties to rally around and support the UN-supported political process," said the spokesman.