The Yemeni government has handed over the remains of 26 Houthi fighters killed in recent battles in the Marib and Al-Jawf governorates. The move, announced on Friday, is described as a unilateral initiative undertaken for humanitarian reasons.
According to reports, the transfer was facilitated through a local mediator, with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) informed. The Yemeni News Agency (Saba) confirmed that the remains of the fighters, identified by Houthi representatives, were returned following coordination between government entities, the General Staff, relevant agencies, and local authorities in Marib.
Yahya Kazman, head of the government’s negotiating delegation for detainees and forcibly disappeared persons, stated that this gesture aims to demonstrate good faith ahead of upcoming negotiations with the Houthis, mediated by international partners. The government hopes to advance the ‘all for all’ principle regarding the release of prisoners and detainees.
Yemen has experienced relative calm since April 2022, following years of conflict between government forces and the Houthi movement, which controls several governorates and cities, including Sanaa, since 2014. A significant prisoner exchange took place in April 2023, facilitated by the ICRC and the United Nations, leading to the release of approximately 900 prisoners from both sides, including Saudi and Sudanese nationals from the Arab Coalition.
In January 2025, the Houthi group unilaterally released 153 individuals captured during the conflict. While the exact number of prisoners held by both sides remains unknown, estimates suggest around 20,000 individuals are detained. During talks in Stockholm in 2018, both the government and the Houthis presented lists totaling over 15,000 prisoners and detainees.
The government hopes this latest gesture will build momentum towards a comprehensive resolution of the conflict and a lasting peace in Yemen.
