Houthi Group Releases 600 Prisoners Amid Ongoing Violence in Yemen
The Houthi group has released 600 prisoners in Yemen while missile attacks have claimed lives amid escalating conflict.
Sana, November 15 (Daily Kiran) : The Houthi group announced on Sunday the unilateral release of 600 conflict-related prisoners in the Yemeni capital, Sana. This initiative was supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Meanwhile, a source from the government forces reported that at least 17 people were killed or injured when Houthi missiles struck vehicles carrying families fleeing fierce fighting in the southern province of Lahij.
According to the Xinhua news agency, the attack occurred in the coastal area of Khawr Umayrah, located about 90 kilometers west of Aden. The exact number of casualties remains unclear.
A Houthi military source stated that the group targeted gatherings of Saudi-backed government soldiers after retreating from positions near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. “Our target was military groups, not displaced families,” the source emphasized.
In a press conference aired on Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV, Abdul Qader al-Murtada, head of the Houthi committee for prisoner affairs, described this release as the largest unilateral action since the conflict began. He noted that the group had previously released 2,612 prisoners under similar initiatives.
The ICRC also confirmed the release via a statement on the social media platform X, indicating that its representatives met each prisoner personally to assist in their dignified return home. However, the ICRC clarified that it played no role in deciding who would be released or how many.
Despite the recent surge in violence, al-Murtada expressed the group’s readiness to implement the latest prisoner exchange agreement. He stressed that discussions on humanitarian issues should remain separate from military operations.
He attributed the stalling of the agreement to the opposing side and the suspension of United Nations-mediated talks. The internationally recognized Yemeni government has yet to respond to the release or the allegations surrounding it.
This release and the missile attack come at a time when fighting has intensified between Houthi fighters and Saudi-led coalition-supported government forces across various fronts in Yemen. Airstrikes by the coalition continue alongside Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting oil facilities and military installations within Saudi Arabia.
Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since late 2014 when the Houthi group seized control of Sana and large parts of northern Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition intervened militarily in 2015 to support the Yemeni government.
