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| Arabia |
| Soddys participate in prisoner swap |
| 2016-03-10 |
| Saudi Arabia released seven Yemenis in exchange for one of its soldiers, the kingdom's news agency reported Wednesday. It marked the first announced prisoner swap since a Saudi-led coalition of Arab countries went to war against Yemen's rebels nearly a year ago. The Saudi military and the rebels known as Houthis frequently clash along the kingdom's southern border with Yemen. The statement, carried by the Saudi Press Agency, did not specify if the Houthis had been holding the soldier who was released. SPA said Yemeni tribal leaders coordinated the prisoner swap that led to the release of Cpl. Jaber Al Kaabi. It also said Yemeni tribal figures helped facilitate the delivery of aid across the border into Yemeni villages. The statement said the seven Yemenis had been detained in areas of military operations near the border, but did not give details on when the Yemenis and the solider had been detained nor where the exchange took place. In September, the Houthis released a video purporting to show another Saudi corporal, named Ibrahim Al Hakimi, being held captive. The Yemeni capital of Sanaa and the northern region of the country where Houthis are in control have reported relative calm in recent days. |
| Posted by:badanov |