The wind of normalization in the Middle East… The exchange of prisoners in Yemen started
It has been reported that a prisoner exchange between the Yemeni government and the Iranian-backed Houthis has begun.
Adnan Huzam, spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said that in accordance with the agreement reached in Switzerland, a mutual prisoner exchange operation was launched between the Yemeni government and the Houthis. Noting that it was a pleasure for the prisoners to meet their families, Huzam also stated that this was an important step in establishing relations between the warring parties in Yemen.
Huzam expressed his desire for more prisoner exchanges thanks to such steps.
Furthermore, according to information received from local sources, the people released by the Yemeni government arrived in Sana’a at the same time that the prisoners released by the Houthis arrived at Aden International Airport on an ICRC plane.
The released prisoners were received by the military authorities.
Among those released by the Houthis, Yemen’s Defense Minister Muhsin ed-Dairi, Aden Governor Ahmed Hamid Lemles and some government officials met with former president Abdurabbu Mansur Hadi’s brother Nasser Mansur and former minister of Defense, Mahmud es-Sabihi.
As part of the first phase of the swap, 250 people from the Houthis and 70 from the Yemeni government are expected to be released today.
The Yemeni government and the Houthis began prisoner exchange talks in Switzerland on March 11, under the auspices of the United Nations.
As a result of the negotiations, the parties reached an agreement on the mutual release of 887 people, including 4 journalists and prominent political, military and security officials, on March 20. (AA)