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| Yemen war: Major prisoner swap raises hopes | Yemen war: Major prisoner swap raises hopes |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| It is the largest-scale prisoner exchange for more than two years | It is the largest-scale prisoner exchange for more than two years |
| A major prisoner swap between warring sides in Yemen is under way, seen as part of stepped-up efforts to end the devastating eight-year conflict there. | A major prisoner swap between warring sides in Yemen is under way, seen as part of stepped-up efforts to end the devastating eight-year conflict there. |
| The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said detainees were being flown from the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, to government-held Aden. | The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said detainees were being flown from the rebel-held capital, Sanaa, to government-held Aden. |
| About 900 prisoners are expected to be exchanged over the next three days. | About 900 prisoners are expected to be exchanged over the next three days. |
| The war between rebels and pro-government Saudi-led forces has left tens of thousands of Yemenis dead. | The war between rebels and pro-government Saudi-led forces has left tens of thousands of Yemenis dead. |
| It has also created what the UN has called one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with some 80% of the population forced to rely on food aid to survive. | |
| The exchange - the largest since late 2020 - is seen as a confidence-building measure, following talks earlier this week in Sanaa between a Saudi delegation and Houthi rebels aimed at reaching a new and potentially permanent ceasefire. | The exchange - the largest since late 2020 - is seen as a confidence-building measure, following talks earlier this week in Sanaa between a Saudi delegation and Houthi rebels aimed at reaching a new and potentially permanent ceasefire. |
| Why is there a war in Yemen? | Why is there a war in Yemen? |
| The talks were facilitated by Oman, which shares a border with both Saudi Arabia and Yemen and has played a key role in attempts to broker an end to the fighting for years. | The talks were facilitated by Oman, which shares a border with both Saudi Arabia and Yemen and has played a key role in attempts to broker an end to the fighting for years. |
| There has been increased momentum towards ending the war since Saudi Arabia and the Houthis resumed direct on-off talks last year. Hopes were furthered when Saudi Arabia and its powerful rival Iran - the Houthis' main backer - agreed last month to restore relations after a bitter seven-year rift. | There has been increased momentum towards ending the war since Saudi Arabia and the Houthis resumed direct on-off talks last year. Hopes were furthered when Saudi Arabia and its powerful rival Iran - the Houthis' main backer - agreed last month to restore relations after a bitter seven-year rift. |
| Despite the failure to renew a UN-brokered six-month ceasefire in October, there has been a sharp decline in fighting, accompanied by some steps to ease tensions. They include the easing of restrictions on imports and prisoner exchanges, agreed in negotiations in Switzerland last month. | Despite the failure to renew a UN-brokered six-month ceasefire in October, there has been a sharp decline in fighting, accompanied by some steps to ease tensions. They include the easing of restrictions on imports and prisoner exchanges, agreed in negotiations in Switzerland last month. |
| In a statement confirming the releases were under way, the ICRC said it would use its planes to fly the detainees into and out of cities in both Yemen and Saudi Arabia. | In a statement confirming the releases were under way, the ICRC said it would use its planes to fly the detainees into and out of cities in both Yemen and Saudi Arabia. |
| There are believed to be thousands of prisoners held by both sides. | There are believed to be thousands of prisoners held by both sides. |
| "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," said the ICRC's regional director, Fabrizio Carboni. | "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," said the ICRC's regional director, Fabrizio Carboni. |
| Yemen has been devastated by a conflict that escalated in 2015, when the Houthis seized control of large parts of the west of the country. | Yemen has been devastated by a conflict that escalated in 2015, when the Houthis seized control of large parts of the west of the country. |
| Mr Hadi fled abroad and a Saudi-led alliance of Arab states intervened to restore his rule. However, years of military stalemate have followed. | Mr Hadi fled abroad and a Saudi-led alliance of Arab states intervened to restore his rule. However, years of military stalemate have followed. |
| The fighting has reportedly left more than 150,000 people dead and more than 23 million people - three-quarters of the population - in need of some form of aid. | The fighting has reportedly left more than 150,000 people dead and more than 23 million people - three-quarters of the population - in need of some form of aid. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen | Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen |
| Yemen | Yemen |
| Yemen crisis | Yemen crisis |
| Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia |