Houthi movement releases 159 detainees in Sanaa

The Houthi movement has released 159 detainees in Sanaa, Yemen, following a unilateral amnesty. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the release was a unilateral initiative by the Houthi authorities, supported by the ICRC, which provided medical assessments and assistance to facilitate the detainees' return home.

Senior Houthi official Abdelkader al-Murtada stated that the individuals, who are members of the government forces, surrendered voluntarily without resistance during recent operations in western Yemen. This release follows a previous amnesty in September that saw the release of 323 detainees.

The ICRC clarified that it played no role in identifying the detainees or determining their number, and noted that this action is not part of the 2018 Stockholm Agreement. While the Houthi movement implements these amnesties, the internationally recognized Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia, has also announced amnesty measures for Houthi fighters.