Global Courant 2023-04-15 21:16:00
The second day of prisoner swaps involved as many as 900 captured fighters as peace talks in the bitter eight-year conflict continue.
The plane carrying the rebel prisoners arrived in Yemen from Saudi Arabia, while the Saudi prisoners are expected to be released later in the day, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced.
The flight is part of a major exchange in several sessions of around 900 captives, which has raised hopes for a possible end to Yemen’s barbaric war between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government in power.
Yesterday (Friday, April 14) 318 prisoners were transported on four flights from Yemen’s government-held area of Aden to the rebel-held area of Sana’a, reuniting with families ahead of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan and Eid.
The development comes at a time when some diplomatic negotiations have started between the supporters of the parties, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Today’s flight from the southern Saudi city of Abha landed in Sana’a early this morning with 120 Houthi rebels on board, Red Cross spokeswoman Jessica Moussan said.
An Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalist in Abha said three buses had brought the prisoners to the airport, which has previously been attacked by Houthi forces with drones and rockets. Wheelchairs were placed near the buses to send the wounded prisoners to the plane.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the exchange, sixteen Saudis and three Sudanese were reported to be transferred today from Sanaa to Riyadh.
The prisoner exchanges are a hopeful development in ending Yemen’s brutal war, which has left hundreds of thousands dead and wounded, and millions more without food and healthcare.
Saudi ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman, when the war started he was only a 29-year-old minister of defense, while now he has said that he focuses on the vision of building and expanding Saudi cities.
Diplomacy mediated by China between Arabia and Iran has brought about the restoration of relations between the two countries after seven years of breakdown.
Sanam Vakil, representative of the Middle East of the British analysts Chatham House, said: “Saudi Arabia cannot shrink its military involvement in the conflict in Yemen and therefore requires a durable peace solution to focus on economic priorities.”
The plane carrying the rebel prisoners arrived in Yemen from Saudi Arabia, while the Saudi prisoners are expected to be released later in the day
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