Saudi Arabia releases 7 Houthi prisoners

Yemeni security officials say seven Houthi prisoners have been released by Saudi Arabia and returned to the capital, Sanaa. (File/AFP)

SANAA: Yemeni security officials say seven Houthi prisoners have been released by Saudi Arabia and returned to the capital, Sanaa. It's the first small prisoner exchange between the two sides, after the Houthis released a Saudi a day earlier.

The Houthis were transferred by the International Red Cross late on Wednesday, and the aid group had also arranged for the transfer of the Saudi prisoner. The Houthis had said they were releasing him because he's sick.

UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths welcomed the move, the first since the conflict began.

Griffiths posted on social media that he "hopes this will give a push to the rapid implementation of the prisoner exchange agreement" struck in Stockholm in December.