Warring factions in Yemen end prisoner exchanges

The Yemeni government and Houthi rebels have successfully ended a prisoner exchange: about 900 people were reunited with their families within three days, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Sunday. Footage in Arab media showed ex-convicts being greeted by happy relatives upon arrival at their homes.

The government released about 700 prisoners from Friday to Sunday and the Houthi rebels released about 180 prisoners, including former defense minister Mahmoud al-Subaihi and a senior government military official. The agreement on the exchange of prisoners was preceded by negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg called on both sides to release all people detained in the course of the conflict. “Thousands of families are still waiting to be reunited with their loved ones.”

In 2014, Iran-backed Houthi rebels conquered Yemen. Today they dominate large parts of the north, including the capital Sanaa. The government of the impoverished country is fighting them with the help of a military alliance led by Saudi Arabia. All attempts to resolve the conflict definitively have so far failed. However, the recent rapprochement between the two rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran now raises hopes for a breakthrough. At a recent meeting with representatives from Saudi Arabia, the Shiite Houthi rebels openly called for an end to the civil war. (cst/sda/dpa)