Fired various parties conflict in Yemen Scores released captives Saturday is the second day of the prisoner exchange.
Two planes took off from Abha Airport in the south of the Kingdom 237 A prisoner of the Houthi movement to Sana’a, according to Jessica Mosan, media advisor to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
In return, a plane was transferred from Sanaa to Riyadh 16 A Saudi and three Sudanese have been fighting in the ranks of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen since 2015 In support of the government in the face of the Houthis loyal to Iran. Also on the plane was the son and brother of a member of the Yemeni Presidential Council, Tareq Saleh.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has also allocated three other flights between Mocha (western Yemen), which is under the control of government forces, and Sanaa. 100 Houthi prisoner.
The Yemeni conflict began in 2014 When the Iran-backed Houthis took control of several areas in the country, including the capital, Sana’a. The following year, Saudi Arabia intervened at the head of the military coalition, exacerbating the conflict that left hundreds of thousands dead and caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
The Houthis and the government reached, during negotiations held in Berne last month, an agreement to exchange more than 880 captive. Under the agreement, the Houthis will release 181 prisoners, including Saudis and Sudanese, in return 706 detained by government forces.
The coalition spokesman, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, said, according to the Saudi Press Agency, that the prisoner exchange process “is of great interest from the political and military leadership of the coalition to end the file of prisoners and restore all prisoners and detainees.”
The number of Saudi prisoners in Yemen and Houthi prisoners is still unknown.
Analysts say that following eight years, the Saudis have realized that overthrowing the Houthis will not be achieved and are looking forward to ending their military involvement.
Last month, Saudi Arabia’s exit strategy received support from a Chinese-brokered agreement to resume diplomatic relations with Iran, which might mean reshaping the political landscape of the Middle East, given the two countries’ involvement in regional conflicts, including Yemen.
In Yemen, a Saudi delegation visited Sanaa last Sunday for talks centered on reviving the truce and laying the groundwork for a more sustainable ceasefire. The delegation, headed by Ambassador Mohammed al-Jaber, left Thursday evening with an agreement to hold further talks, according to Houthi and Yemeni government sources.
long truce
A Houthi official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there had been “a preliminary agreement on a truce” that might be announced later, while the Houthis’ chief negotiator, Mohammed Abdel Salam, described the talks as “serious and positive”.
Riyadh is believed to have requested security guarantees from the Iranians, including stopping Houthi drone and missile attacks on Saudi territory.
However, even if the kingdom manages to negotiate a way out of the war, fighting might break out once more between the different Yemeni factions within Yemen.
“Saudi Arabia is striving to reduce its military involvement in Yemen (…) and is seeking a lasting and long-term peace that allows it to focus on its economic priorities,” Sanam Wakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at Chatham House, told AFP.
“But despite this goal, it will be the mediator, investor and guarantor of the conflict in Yemen for a long time,” she added.
France 24/AFP
