rki.news
ADEN, Yemen – The Yemen government and the Houthi movement have signed a major agreement to exchange approximately 1,750 detainees following UN-facilitated talks held in Amman, Jordan, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The agreement, reached after months of negotiations, is being described as the largest prisoner exchange since the start of the conflict. It covers detainees held by Yemeni government forces, Houthi fighters, allied military formations, and members of the Saudi-led coalition.
According to Yemeni officials, the exchange lists include around 1,100 detainees held by government forces and approximately 580 held by the Houthis, with the final lists signed in the Jordanian capital.
Houthi representatives said the agreement also includes several foreign nationals, among them seven Saudis and 20 Sudanese prisoners captured during the conflict.
Both sides confirmed that implementation of the agreement will begin after logistical arrangements are completed under the coordination of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The deal forms part of a broader UN-backed prisoner exchange framework and follows earlier understandings reached in Oman in 2025. A previous major exchange in 2023 saw the release of nearly 900 detainees.
Despite the expiration of the 2022 UN-mediated truce, both sides have largely maintained a de facto ceasefire. Officials said efforts will continue under UN-led initiatives to secure the release of remaining detainees and address one of the most sensitive humanitarian issues in the conflict.