A military official said to Xinhua that on Sunday, Feb. 28 the Yemeni administration and the Houthi rebel outfit exchanged a number of 36 detainees in Yemen's turbulent northeastern province of Marib.

The Houthi rebel outfit freed a number of 18 detainees associated with the administration forces after a tribal negotiation, stated the local military resource on condition of anonymity.

The military source further said that the administration forces, in the meantime, freed 18 rebels of the Houthi outfit captured in previous fights.

He said that the swap of the detainees between the two fighting rivals happened in southern Marib under the backing of local tribal chiefs.