Plane carrying rebel prisoners leaves Saudi Arabia for Yemen: ICRC
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A plane carrying Houthi prisoners took off Saturday from Saudi Arabia for Yemen's rebel-held capital of Sanaa, a humanitarian organization said, amid renewed hopes for peace in war-torn Yemen.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that a plane carrying 120 prisoners in Saudi Arabia left the southern city of Abha bound for Sanaa. This is the first of three flights planned for the day to transport prisoners between Riyadh and Sanaa.
The prisoner swap is part of a recent breakthrough in relations between the Sunni kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Shiite-majority Iran that has brought fresh hope for ending more than eight years of war in Yemen where the two nations support opposing sides. Tehran backs the Houthi rebels while Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition supporting the government.
Last week, AFP cited a government source as saying that the Saudis and Houthis have agreed to a six-month truce.
According to ICRC, nearly 900 detainees are expected to be released as part of the prisoner exchange.
"With this act of goodwill, hundreds of families torn apart by conflict are being reunited during the holy month of Ramadan, providing a glimmer of hope amidst great suffering. Our deep desire is that these releases provide momentum for a broader political solution," said Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC's regional director for the Near and Middle East.
Regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to restore diplomatic ties as part of a China-brokered agreement reached last month.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that a plane carrying 120 prisoners in Saudi Arabia left the southern city of Abha bound for Sanaa. This is the first of three flights planned for the day to transport prisoners between Riyadh and Sanaa.
The prisoner swap is part of a recent breakthrough in relations between the Sunni kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Shiite-majority Iran that has brought fresh hope for ending more than eight years of war in Yemen where the two nations support opposing sides. Tehran backs the Houthi rebels while Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition supporting the government.
Last week, AFP cited a government source as saying that the Saudis and Houthis have agreed to a six-month truce.
Starting the second day of our operation to transfer detainees, held in relation to the conflict in #Yemen, with these heartwarming photos we captured yesterday of former detainees reuniting with their loved ones ❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/xcqVzt5zVY
— ICRC (@ICRC) April 15, 2023
According to ICRC, nearly 900 detainees are expected to be released as part of the prisoner exchange.
"With this act of goodwill, hundreds of families torn apart by conflict are being reunited during the holy month of Ramadan, providing a glimmer of hope amidst great suffering. Our deep desire is that these releases provide momentum for a broader political solution," said Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC's regional director for the Near and Middle East.
Regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to restore diplomatic ties as part of a China-brokered agreement reached last month.