The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that more than 100 prisoners of war were flown from Saudi Arabia to Yemen on Monday, bolstering peace hopes a day after a significant exchange of 869 captives concluded.
Two International Committee of the Red Cross planes carrying 48 prisoners each flew to Sanaa, the rebel-held capital of Yemen. While a third aircraft carrying eight prisoners took off for government-controlled Aden in the south, according to the humanitarian organization.
ICRC media advisor Jessica Moussan told AFP that the “unilateral” release violates the terms of the three-day exchange negotiated between Yemen’s Huthi militants and government officials, which concluded on Sunday.
“We are pleased to see that humanitarian considerations are being taken into account to reunite families,” Moussan said.
She added, “This will bring tremendous relief to the detainees’ families.” According to Moussan, the ICRC is “facilitating” the transfer by providing air transportation and logistical support, as well as by interrogating the captives.
Since Friday, 973 detainees have been freed. 104 were released days before Eid al-Fitr.
In 2014, the Huthis supported by Iran occupied Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention months later.
The conflict has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and a significant humanitarian crisis.
An armistice brokered by the United Nations that went into effect in April 2022 has drastically reduced casualties. The cease-fire ended in October, but violence has largely ceased.
The exchange and the truce negotiations come a month after Gulf heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations, triggering a wave of reconciliation throughout the troubled region.
A Saudi delegation met in Sanaa last week to discuss establishing a more durable ceasefire. The talks concluded without an armistice but with an agreement to convene again.
According to analysts, Saudi Arabia now acknowledges that its protracted military campaign cannot vanquish the rebels.
