Houthis Release 159 Prisoners in Sana'a Under General Amnesty

The Houthi group released 159 prisoners in Sana'a on October 17, 2026. Abdul Qader al-Murtada, head of the Houthis' prisoner affairs committee, stated the released individuals were fighters who had voluntarily surrendered during recent combat.

The release was executed under a general amnesty issued on September 10 by Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council. This represents the second batch of releases under the amnesty, following the release of 323 prisoners in Hodeidah on September 15 and additional releases in Taiz province. The action takes place amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognized government.

The National Committee for Prisoners Affairs initiated the process, while the International Committee of the Red Cross provided logistical and medical support. The humanitarian organization conducted pre-departure interviews and health assessments to ensure detainees were fit for travel. The International Committee of the Red Cross clarified that it did not determine the identity or number of the released individuals and noted that the release was not part of the Stockholm Agreement.