Houthi rebels and pro-government forces in central Yemen exchanged about 194 prisoners -- 118 Houthis and 76 pro-government fighters -- in Taiz city on Saturday, as reported by Reuters.
This was the largest such swap to take place in Yemen's third largest city since the beginning of a civil war last year the Houthis rebels forced President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee to Saudi Arabia after a Saudi-led coalition tried to Hadi to come to power again.
The recent exchange of prisoners is expected to solidify the ceasefire declared in April after mistrust due to repeated violations by both the sides.
The threat from Islamic State(ISIS) militants and Al Qaeda militants who control large swathes of Yemen, and borders Saudi Arabia may be prompting the two sides to cooperate.
Since the truce has been announced, the thaw in the fighting between the Iranian-allied Houthis and supporters of the internationally-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has brought relief in Yemen.
But despite the start of U.N.-sponsored peace talks in Kuwait, fighting has continued in Taiz. Neither side has been able to extend control over the entire city.
At least 12 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in a rocket attack earlier this month.
According to a recent report by the United Nations and the Yemeni government, more than half of the Yemenis need emergency food and life-saving assistance.
Meanwhile, Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman is scheduled to meet U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday over UN's blacklisting of the Saudi-led coalition for its role in killing children in Yemen, according to another Reuters report.
