Yemen Conflict: Houthi Group Unilaterally Releases Detainees
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed the unilateral release of 113 “conflict-related” detainees, emphasizing the humanitarian nature of the initiative. This move by Yemen’s Houthi group in Sanaa aimed to pardon prisoners and reunite them with their families.
Details of the Release
- Over 100 detainees were freed, with a focus on humanitarian cases such as the sick, wounded, and elderly.
- The detainees were reportedly government soldiers captured at the battlefront, according to Abdul Qader Al-Murtada, head of the Houthi-run prisoner affairs committee.
- However, Yemen’s internationally recognized government disputed this claim, stating that the detainees were civilians kidnapped by the Houthis from various locations.
Majed Fadail, deputy minister for human rights in Yemen’s internationally recognized government, condemned the Houthis’ actions, emphasizing that releasing the victims does not absolve them of their crimes.
One of the released detainees, Murshed Al Jamaai, expressed his relief, stating, “I feel completely at ease, as if I was born again today. Because we were desperate and thought we would never get out.”
Background of the Conflict
The conflict in Yemen escalated when the Houthis seized control of the capital Sanaa in 2014, leading to intervention by a Saudi Arabia-led military coalition in 2015 to restore the government.
Roadmap for Peace
Last December, a proposed Yemen UN roadmap for peace was outlined, but progress has been hindered by continued hostilities. The Houthis’ increased attacks in the Red Sea region, citing solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza conflict, have further complicated peace efforts.
This ongoing campaign has not only disrupted global commerce but also raised concerns about inflation and regional stability. The repercussions of the Israel-Hamas conflict are feared to have a destabilizing impact on the Middle East.
