Terrorist Elements in Yemen's Largest Prisoner Exchange Deal Threaten to Disrupt with Explosive Lists

The largest planned prisoner exchange deal between the Yemeni government and the Houthis has been canceled. The deal would have involved the release of 1,728 detainees, but disagreements over the lists of those to be released—particularly concerning individuals involved in terrorist activities and assassinations—have caused the cancellation. Revenant protests by the families of victims of terrorist operations in some Yemeni provinces have begun to escalate, as they consider that talk of releasing those accused of terrorism is an overreach of justice and a threat to security. There are also fears that the deal might be exploited to allow criminals to escape punishment.