OMAN December 23, 2025 – Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have reached a landmark agreement to exchange approximately 2,900 prisoners and detainees, marking the largest such swap since the civil war began in 2014.
The deal was finalized on Tuesday after 12 days of UN-sponsored talks in Muscat, mediated by Oman and supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Houthi officials described the exchange as involving the release of 1,700 detainees linked to their side in return for 1,200 held by government forces, including seven Saudi nationals and 23 Sudanese.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg hailed the agreement as a “positive and meaningful step” that would ease the suffering of detainees and their families. “Effective implementation will require continued engagement from the parties, coordinated regional support, and efforts to build on this progress toward further releases,” he said.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed the agreement in a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling it “an important humanitarian step that contributes to alleviating human suffering and enhancing confidence-building opportunities.” Riyadh praised Oman’s “sincere efforts and generous initiatives” in hosting the talks from December 9 to 23, as well as the contributions of the UN envoy’s office and the ICRC.
Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohamed Al Jaber commended the negotiation teams for addressing a key humanitarian issue and strengthening calm in Yemen.
The ICRC, which will oversee the releases and repatriations, expressed readiness to facilitate the process “in a safe and dignified manner.” Previous major exchanges include over 1,000 detainees freed in 2020 and nearly 1,000 in 2023.
This development comes amid Yemen’s prolonged conflict, which has caused immense humanitarian suffering. Prisoner swaps have been one of the few areas of cooperation between the warring sides, offering hope for broader de-escalation and peace efforts aligned with the aspirations of the Yemeni people.
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