In a rare and discreet diplomatic maneuver, Jordan has successfully negotiated the release of a Jordanian national and deputy director of UNICEF’s Yemen office, Lana Shukri, from Houthi custody in Sana’a according to local sources.
The exchange, which bypassed traditional UN mediation channels, involved the evacuation of wounded Yemeni civilians to Jordan for medical treatment.
According to the sources, who are familiar with the operation, a Jordanian military aircraft landed at Sana’a International Airport earlier this week, marking an unusual direct engagement with Houthi-controlled territory.
Onboard the return flight were Shukri and 21 other individuals, including nine civilians injured in recent Israeli airstrikes on the Yemeni capital.
In return, Jordan reportedly allowed several Houthi-affiliated figures—previously stranded in Amman due to travel restrictions—to depart for Sana’a.
The move is seen as a humanitarian gesture, though it has raised questions about the growing role of regional actors in crisis diplomacy outside the framework of international organizations.
Jordanian officials have confirmed Shukri’s safe arrival but declined to comment on the broader terms of the exchange. UNICEF has also refrained from issuing a detailed statement, citing the sensitivity of the situation.