Yemeni Houthis free two Saudi soldiers

Yemeni Hezbollah Movement Houthis have released two more Saudi soldiers taken captive during months of fighting near the rugged border regions of the oil-rich kingdom.

“We have started to hand over the rest of the Saudi soldiers to the ceasefire committee in Sa’ada,” Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam said.

However, Abdul Salam gave no information on when the remaining two soldiers would be freed. Yemeni Hezbollah Movement Houthi fighters offered Riyadh a truce last month and freed the first of five captive soldiers on Monday.

A former Yemeni prime minister, Haidar al-Attas, who lives in Saudi Arabia, mediated a deal under which the Houthis would hand over the Saudi soldiers to the Yemeni government. Under the agreement, the Saudis would also hand over rebel prisoners to the Yemeni government.

Riyadh joined an all-out war against the Houthis on November 4, accusing the fighters of occupying two villages inside Saudi territory. At least 113 Saudi soldiers have been killed in the conflict.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that more than 250,000 people have fled their homes. On Tuesday, the UNHCR renewed calls for access to tens of thousands of displaced people in Sa’ada province.

The UNHCR also warned its humanitarian operations might be reduced or suspended if its aid appeals are unheeded.

“Displaced people and those who were trapped by the fighting need urgent and massive support,” UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming announced at a press conference.

Over 27,000 people are now in camps and despite international aid, many of the displaced are fast exhausting their remaining resources.