Amman, 14 May 2026 - The parties agreed today to release over 1,600 conflict-related detainees, an unprecedented number in the history of the current conflict in Yemen. This outcome is the result of 14 weeks of intensive negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations in Amman, Jordan.
“This is a moment of profound relief for thousands of Yemenis who have endured long and painful waits the return of their family members. The steadfast and courageous advocacy of the families of detainees has been instrumental in bringing us to this point,” said the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg.
“This outcome is a clear demonstration of what sustained and determined negotiations can produce. It proves that when the parties choose to engage in dialogue, they can deliver on the priorities that weigh most heavily on Yemeni families, and build confidence for the wider peace process.”
He added: “I commend the parties for engaging in good faith and dedicating themselves to these negotiations over many weeks, including through a period of extraordinary regional complexity. I encourage them to build on today’s outcome, and to carry out additional releases, including on a unilateral basis.”
Today’s agreement builds on an earlier round of negotiations in December 2025 in Muscat, Oman.
As next steps, the parties have also agreed to reconvene to negotiate further releases, to conduct joint visits to one another’s detention facilities, and to ensure access to all detainees.
The Envoy further added: “I also express my deep solidarity with all those in arbitrary detention and their families, including personnel from the UN, NGOs, civil society and diplomatic missions arbitrarily detained by Ansar Allah. The United Nations continues with unwavering determination to press for their releases. I hope that today’s positive momentum can help advance the release of our colleagues.”
The Special Envoy expressed his gratitude to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for hosting and supporting this round of negotiations, and for their continued support for wider peace efforts in Yemen. He also thanked the International Committee of the Red Cross for their indispensable partnership as co-chair of the Supervisory Committee on the implementation of the detainee release agreement.
The Supervisory Committee on the implementation of the detainee release agreement was established under the 2018 Stockholm Agreement, in which the parties committed to release all conflict-related detainees under the “all-for-all” principle.
