Government Blames Houthi Militia for Stalemate in Prisoner Exchange Deal

The Yemeni government delegation has refuted claims by the Houthi-affiliated prisoner affairs committee regarding the failure to implement a prisoner exchange deal, asserting that the Houthi militia bears full responsibility for the impasse.

Yahya Kozman, the deputy head of the government's negotiating delegation, denied the validity of statements made by Abdul Qadir Al-Murtada, head of the Houthi committee, attributing the alleged reasons for the deal's collapse to fabrications. Kozman emphasized that the Houthi militia is the party that obstructed the agreement's execution.

Kozman detailed that the Houthi militia, through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), requested a postponement of the exchange operation. Furthermore, they prevented the completion of logistical arrangements for the scheduled flights, including the detention of an ICRC aircraft at Sana'a Airport.

He affirmed that the government side has fulfilled all its obligations stipulated in the agreement and completed the necessary procedures for its implementation. Kozman squarely placed the responsibility for the deal's failure and the continued suffering of detainees and their families on the Houthi militia.

Kozman urged the Houthi militia to commit to implementing the agreed-upon deal without delay or employing the issue for political blackmail, thereby ensuring the release of detainees and ending the suffering of their families.