Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the Houthi movement have reached a significant agreement to exchange thousands of detainees, marking one of the largest prisoner swap deals since the conflict began more than a decade ago. The agreement was finalised during UN-mediated talks in Muscat, Oman, according to officials and the United Nations.

The deal is being widely described as a humanitarian breakthrough in a conflict that has devastated Yemen and left millions dependent on aid.

Nearly 3,000 Prisoners Set for Release

In a statement released on Tuesday, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg confirmed that the agreement was reached after nearly two weeks of negotiations facilitated by Oman, which has played a central mediating role in the Yemen war.

According to Abdulqader al-Mortada, a senior Houthi negotiator, the agreement provides for the release of 1,700 Houthi prisoners in exchange for 1,200 detainees held by the Houthis, including seven Saudi nationals and 23 Sudanese citizens.

A representative of Yemen’s government delegation, Majed Fadhail, said the agreement would result in the release of “thousands” of detainees overall. Two of the Saudi prisoners are air force pilots, he confirmed.

UN and ICRC Welcome the Agreement

Grundberg welcomed the prisoner exchange as a “positive and meaningful step” that could help ease the suffering of detainees and their families across Yemen.

“The effective implementation of this agreement will require continued engagement and cooperation from all parties,” Grundberg said, adding that the deal could serve as a foundation for further confidence-building measures and additional releases.

The agreement was signed under the supervision of the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which will oversee the logistics of the exchange.

Red Cross Prepares for Prisoner Transfers

Christine Cipolla, head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen, said the organisation was ready to carry out the releases.

“We are prepared to facilitate the safe transfer and repatriation of detainees so that families separated by years of conflict can be reunited in a dignified manner,” she said.

Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohamed AlJabir also praised the deal, calling it an important humanitarian step that could help stabilise the situation and build trust between the warring sides.

Yemen Conflict Remains Fragile

Although large-scale fighting has largely stalled since 2022, Yemen remains deeply unstable. Recent weeks have seen rising tensions due to military advances by the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in eastern Yemen, particularly in Hadramout and al-Mahra governorates.

The prisoner exchange agreement comes amid concerns that political and territorial disputes could undermine fragile calm across the country.

Humanitarian Crisis Continues

The Yemen war, which began in 2014, has killed tens of thousands of people and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. According to the United Nations:

• Nearly 20 million people rely on humanitarian aid to survive
• Around five million Yemenis remain internally displaced
• Millions face food insecurity and limited access to healthcare

Humanitarian organisations say prisoner exchanges play a crucial role in reducing suffering and restoring trust between parties to the conflict.

A Step Toward Confidence-Building

While the agreement does not signal an end to the war, analysts say it represents an important confidence-building measure that could support broader peace efforts if implemented successfully.

International observers stress that sustained dialogue, regional cooperation, and humanitarian commitments will be essential to transform such agreements into lasting stability for Yemen.