Saudi-led coalition: 200 Yemen rebels released as part of peace efforts

Saudi Arabia-led coalition, which fights in Yemen, said on vember 26 that it has released 200 Houthi rebels to vance a United Nations-brokered deal which is aimed at ending war in poorest country in Arab world. spokesperson of coalition said in a statement that recent move was aimed at creating a way for a larger and long-delayed prisoner swap agreed in December 2018. Rebel leer called on coalition to release 'all war prisoners' and welcomed move. 

Saudi-led coalition has been at war with Iran-backed Houthis on behalf of Yemen's internationally recognised government since 2015. war has killed at least 100,000 people and has also resulted in world's worst humanitarian crisis by leaving millions suffering from food and medical care shorts. In September, Houthis released scores of prisoners who were held for years in rebel-controlled territory. 

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prisoner swap

prisoner swap was a part of UN-negotiated agreement which was reached in Sweden in December last year and involved a cease-fire at port of Hodeida. Hodeida is main passway for imports and a lifeline for Houthi-controlled areas. However, agreement is yet to be fully implemented. According to government of Yemen, release of detainees is a trust-building measure for encourment of negotiation from Houthis with coalition. 

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Saudi Arabia began indirect talks with Houthi rebels in Oman in September after Houthis claimed an attack on Saudi oil infrastructure which furr affected global oil supplies. United States, on or hand, h blamed attack on Iran. Currently, talks between both sides are focussed on interim agreements including re-opening Yemen's main international airport in Sanaa which was shut down by coalition in 2016. airport with benefit country for flying  patients out of Sanaa for treatment abro while working with UN. 

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(With AP inputs)