UN welcomes deal to release more than 1,600 detainees in Yemen, urges swift implementation

The Secretary-General's statement, read by Spokesperson Farhan, welcomed a deal reached in Amman to release more than 1,600 conflict-related detainees, the largest such release since the conflict began.

Farhan said the release followed weeks of direct negotiations and that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will play a lead role in implementing transfers. The Secretary-General called on parties to move quickly to implement the deal so families can be reunited and to build on the momentum toward broader releases under the 2018 Stockholm Agreement.

On whether any UN civil-society or diplomatic staff were part of the release, Farhan said reporters' follow-up: “No. In fact, this does not involve any of them,” adding that the UN reminds parties that immunities apply to all UN personnel, including national staff.

Why it matters: A release of this scale could reunite many families and reduce detention-related humanitarian concerns, but implementation depends on the ICRC and cooperation by the parties on the ground.

Next steps: The Spokesperson said transfers had not yet begun and urged cooperation with the ICRC; the UN will continue to track implementation and press for the unconditional release of arbitrarily detained UN and humanitarian personnel.