Third Exchange of War Dead Bodies Signals Progress in Yemen Conflict Talks

2023-06-23 02:14:43

Houthi media announced the completion of the third exchange of war dead bodies between the Houthis and the Saudi army, which included 64 bodies, in the latest indication of progress in the talks to end the eight-year conflict.

A video clip and a commentary by Al-Masirah channel showed the exchange of bodies on the Saudi-Yemeni border, where delegations from both sides met following weeks of negotiations in Saudi Arabia, according to Archyde.com.

It was not clear exactly when the exchange took place.

On Thursday, the International Committee of the Red Cross welcomed the exchange process, and its mission to Yemen said in a statement: “We welcome the reports of the exchange of human remains between some parties to the conflict in Yemen.”

“Although the ICRC has not been involved in this process, we welcome any initiative between the parties that might put an end to the suffering of the families of the dead,” the statement said.

The committee expressed its willingness to work “with the parties on the file of the dead and missing in Yemen, and to help facilitate any future operations for the transfer and return of human remains.”

In 2015, a Saudi-led military coalition confronted the Iran-aligned Houthi group that ousted the internationally recognized Yemeni government from Sanaa in 2014.

The conflict has devastated Yemen’s economy, starved millions and killed tens of thousands, but talks to end it have progressed since Riyadh and Iran agreed in March to resume diplomatic relations.

The Saudi delegation received six bodies of its soldiers, while the Houthi side received 58 bodies. A video clip showed the exchange of body bags between the trucks.

There were no reports of the exchange of bodies of the war dead in the Saudi media, and the Saudi government has not yet responded to a request for comment.

In another sign of improving relations, Saudi Arabia said last week that it would allow Yemenia Airlines to fly passengers to the kingdom to perform Hajj from Sanaa for the first time since the outbreak of war in 2015.

On Monday, a delegation including prominent leaders of the Yemeni Houthi group left Sana’a International Airport, heading to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj.

The Houthi-run Saba Net news agency in Sana’a stated that the delegation from the group’s Ministry of Guidance and Hajj and Umrah Affairs includes the Deputy Minister of Guidance, Fouad Naji, Major General Yahya Al-Razami, head of the Military Negotiation Committee of the Sana’a government, and a number of social and tribal figures.

The delegation traveled as part of the second group of Yemeni pilgrims heading from Sana’a Airport to the Saudi city of Jeddah, numbering 180 people.

On the first flight, Saturday, 273 people had traveled under a facilitation from the Saudi authorities to implement these direct flights intended to transport Yemeni pilgrims to perform the Hajj.

The Saudi-led coalition has controlled Yemeni airspace since 2015, and since May 2022, there has been only one commercial flight per week from Sanaa to Amman in Jordan.

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