The head of Yemen’s National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs, Abdulqader Al-Murtadha, announced on Thursday the successful conclusion of a new round of negotiations in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on the long-stalled prisoner exchange file.

In a statement posted on X, Al-Murtadha said the delegations signed final lists for a significant prisoner swap involving approximately 1,100 Yemeni pro-Sana’a (Houthi-aligned) prisoners held by government and coalition forces, in exchange for around 580 members of the Saudi-led coalition armies and allied Yemeni forces detained by the Houthis.

The agreement also covers the release of seven Saudi prisoners and 20 Sudanese detainees, reflecting the multinational nature of the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015. Implementation is expected to begin once logistical and verification procedures coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are completed.

This latest deal comes as a follow-up to the major prisoner exchange framework agreed in Muscat, Oman, in December 2025, which aimed at releasing nearly 2,900 detainees overall and was described as the largest since the war began. Thursday’s announcement in Amman focuses on finalizing and activating specific batches under that broader understanding.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and the ICRC have been actively involved in mediating and facilitating the process. Both parties have described the move as a humanitarian step and a confidence-building measure amid ongoing efforts to advance a broader peace roadmap in Yemen.

The conflict in Yemen, which escalated with the Saudi-led intervention in 2015, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Previous major exchanges, such as the 2023 operation that freed nearly 900 detainees and the 2020 swap of over 1,000, were also facilitated by the UN and ICRC.

Analysts view these incremental prisoner deals as positive signs of limited de-escalation and mutual interest in addressing humanitarian issues, even as core political disagreements persist. Families on both sides have long awaited the return of loved ones, with thousands still believed to be held across various detention facilities in Yemen and the region.Further updates on the timeline for actual releases and transfers are anticipated once the ICRC finalizes arrangements. (ILKHA)