Yemen Government and Houthis to Release Over 1,600 POWs in Largest Swap
Yemen's government and the Houthis have agreed to free more than 1,600 prisoners of war in what is being described as the country's largest such swap. The deal will be carried out under United Nations supervision. Diplomats see it as strengthening the ground for a more durable ceasefire.
Yemen's government and the Houthis have reached an agreement to free more than 1,600 prisoners of war in what is being described as the largest swap in the country's history. The deal will be implemented under the supervision of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
According to Al Jazeera, the swap's details were the subject of long-running negotiations in Switzerland. The list includes Yemeni military personnel, Houthi fighters and some civilians who had been detained. The agreement is being read as a fragile but meaningful diplomatic gain in the context of the ongoing Iran war.
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen said the swap could strengthen the ground for negotiations leading to a durable ceasefire. Saudi Arabia and Oman are acting as facilitators of the process. The US State Department called the deal 'an important humanitarian step' and said it will follow developments around the swap timetable.
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