Saudi Arabia welcomes the Amman agreement to exchange detainees
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's welcome of the agreement signed in Amman, Jordan, for the exchange of detainees in Yemen. This agreement is a positive development and a pivotal step that directly contributes to alleviating the humanitarian suffering of the detainees and their families. It also works to strengthen trust between the parties involved, thus opening new horizons for security and stability in the region.
In its official statement, the Ministry commended the tireless efforts of all parties involved in reaching this historic agreement. It also expressed its gratitude for the sincere efforts and generous endeavors of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in hosting the negotiations over the past months, while praising the effective role played by the Office of the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, and the International Committee of the Red Cross in facilitating this agreement.
Details of the agreement to release 1,750 prisoners
For his part, Major General Turki al-Maliki, the official spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, announced the signing of a comprehensive agreement for the release of 1,750 prisoners and detainees from all Yemeni parties and coalition forces. Major General al-Maliki explained that this agreement includes the release of 27 prisoners and detainees from the coalition forces, including seven Saudi prisoners, reflecting the leadership's commitment to securing the release of its citizens.
Al-Maliki noted that the agreement was signed on Thursday evening, May 14, 2026, in the Jordanian capital, Amman, in the presence of the Joint Forces' negotiating committee, with the participation of the Yemeni parties, and under UN auspices. He emphasized that the issue of prisoners and detainees is primarily a purely humanitarian matter, receiving direct attention and utmost care from the leadership of the Joint Forces of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, and that efforts will continue until all prisoners and detainees are returned to their families.
Historical context and importance of prisoner exchange in Yemen
This humanitarian step comes as an extension of a series of international initiatives and efforts aimed at resolving the Yemeni crisis, which erupted in late 2014. The issue of prisoners and missing persons is considered one of the most complex issues to have arisen from the crisis, and the foundation for addressing it was laid within the outcomes of the Stockholm Agreement in 2018, which stipulated the principle of prisoner exchange as a confidence-building measure. Since then, the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross have sponsored several rounds of negotiations and successful exchange operations that have returned thousands to their homes and provided them with necessary medical and psychological care.
The expected impact of the agreement locally and regionally
On the Yemeni domestic front, this agreement represents a significant glimmer of hope for thousands of families who have awaited the return of their loved ones for years, contributing to easing societal tensions and building bridges of tolerance. Regionally and internationally, the success of this deal is a strong indicator of the possibility of building upon humanitarian understandings to reach a comprehensive political settlement. Through its continued support for these steps, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to its various initiatives aimed at ending the Yemeni crisis and achieving a comprehensive political solution that fulfills the aspirations of the brotherly Yemeni people for security, peace, and sustainable development.
