Saudi, Omani envoys in Yemen for peace talks with Houthi leaders
Al JazeeraNov 25, 2022
The Facts
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Friday that Yemen's Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia agreed to exchange about 900 prisoners over the next three days, adding that 318 detainees had already flown between the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa, and government-held Aden, as peace talks between the two sides continue.
ICRC, which is managing the prisoner exchange, also said that its planes would be used to carry the released detainees between six cities in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The Houthis have continued to threaten peace and security in Yemen since they launched their coup in 2014. However, through mediation and compromise, an agreement can be made if the Houthis and their Iranian backers are willing to compromise and allow the country to enjoy peace. Saudi Arabia is surely willing to compromise and, in fact, has always been willing to help bring peace to the impoverished Arab nation, but Iranian meddling hasn't helped the situation. Ultimately, the conflict can only end in a political settlement.
Establishment-critical narrative
It's the Yemeni government and its powerful Gulf allies who have obstructed peace in Yemen and continue to punish its citizens for standing up for themselves. But ultimately, a political process is likely the best way to end the war at this stage in the conflict. The Houthis have shown in the past that they are willing to take good-faith actions for peace, and releasing prisoners clearly demonstrates this desire. Hopefully, with good mediation, this war of aggression can finally come to an end.
