Yemen rebels say holding Saudi captives

RIYADH (AA) – Yemen's Houthi rebels are holding several Saudi captives, according to a rebel negotiator on Tuesday.

“The fate of all Saudi prisoners is connected to the fate of Yemenis held by the Saudi-led coalition whether in Yemen or abroad," Abdul Qader al-Murtada told Russia Today news network.

He said senior Saudi military officer were among those held by the Houthi group, without giving any further details.

There was no comment from Saudi Arabia on the Houthi claim.

Last week, a Saudi soldier and seven rebels were released as part of a prisoner swap between Riyadh and the Houthi group.

Yemen has been wracked by violence since 2014, when the Shia Houthi group overran much of the country and the crisis escalated in 2015 when the Saudi-led coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains.

Saudi Arabia and Sunni allies accuse the Houthis of acting as a proxy force for Shia Iran.

Tens of thousands of people, including civilians, are believed to have been killed and the UN estimates that around 14 million Yemenis are at risk of famine.