Yemen’s rebels on Monday released scores of detainees they had rounded up and held for years in rebel-controlled territory, a development that raised hopes of reviving stalled peace talks between the warring sides.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said the Iran-aligned rebels, known as Houthis, freed 290 detainees.
Franz Rauchenstein, the ICRC’s chief in Yemen, said the Red Cross facilitated the release following a request from the Houthis.
He expressed hope this would open the door to “further releases to bring comfort to families awaiting reunification with their loved ones.”
Most of the prisoners were taken in raids since 2014, when the rebels overran the capital.
