Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen Mohammed al-Jaber welcomed on Tuesday an agreement reached by Yemen’s warring parties to exchange detainees, describing it as a step that would bolster de-escalation efforts and confidence-building in the country.
In a post on X, al-Jaber praised the work of the negotiating teams from both sides, stating that the deal between the legitimate government and Iran-backed Houthi militants addressed an issue with a clear humanitarian dimension and would allow all detainees to return to their families.
He expressed appreciation for the guidance of the Saudi leadership, the follow-up by the defense minister, the cooperation of the Yemeni government, and what he described as Oman’s sincere mediation efforts.
A Yemeni government delegation and the Houthis announced on Tuesday that they had reached an agreement to exchange 2,900 detainees and prisoners.
Under the deal, 1,700 Houthi prisoners would be released in exchange for 1,200 detainees held by the government, including seven Saudis and 23 Sudanese members of the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen.
The International Committee of the Red Cross welcomed the preliminary agreement to release, transfer and repatriate the detainees, urging all parties to turn their commitments into concrete action on the ground.
Christine Cipolla, the ICRC’s head of delegation in Yemen, said the organization is “ready and determined to carry out the release, transfer and repatriation of detainees so that people separated from their families can be reunited in a safe and dignified manner”.
Britain’s Ambassador to Yemen Abda Sharif welcomed the efforts of the ICRC and Oman, stressing that continued cooperation by all parties was vital to making progress toward the release of detainees.
Oman’s foreign ministry said it welcomed the agreement and praised the positive spirit that prevailed during negotiations held from December 9 to 23.
It highlighted the role of Saudi Arabia, the efforts of the UN special envoy’s office for Yemen, the ICRC, and all parties involved in the success of what it described as a humanitarian endeavor.
Humanitarian step, expectations
In a statement, Yemen’s information minister Moammar al-Eryani welcomed the agreement, which he said included prominent political figures such as Mohammed Qahtan.
He described it as “an important and long-awaited humanitarian step that would ease the suffering of thousands of Yemeni families and mark tangible progress in one of the most painful humanitarian crises.”
Al-Eryani said the agreement was the result of directives and close follow-up by the political leadership of the Presidential Leadership Council, headed by Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, and reflected the government’s commitment to handling the detainee issue as a humanitarian and moral matter, free of political considerations or selectivity, to ensure the release of all without exception.
He praised Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role and its leadership’s efforts in pursuing the humanitarian file in cooperation with the Yemeni government, saying the Kingdom was keen to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and strengthen prospects for de-escalation and confidence building.
Al-Eryani noted Oman’s role in hosting the negotiation rounds and creating an atmosphere conducive to reaching the agreement, expressing appreciation for international efforts and UN initiatives that helped bridge differences.
The Yemeni government will continue to implement the agreement responsibly to ensure the full release of all detainees, abductees and those forcibly disappeared, and to put an end to the suffering of thousands of Yemeni families who have waited years for this moment, he added.
