RIYADH: Saudi Arabia released seven Yemenis in exchange for one of its soldiers, the SPA reported Wednesday. It marked the first announced prisoner swap since a Saudi-led coalition of Arab countries went to war against Yemen’s Shiite rebels nearly a year ago.

SPA said Yemeni tribal leaders coordinated the prisoner swap that led to the release of Cpl. Jaber Al-Kaabi. It also said Yemeni tribal figures helped facilitate the delivery of aid across the border into Yemeni villages.

The statement said the seven Yemenis had been detained in areas of military operations near the border, but did not give details on when the Yemenis and the solider had been detained nor where the exchange took place.

It comes as a delegation of tribal leaders from Yemen’s border area were in Riyadh this week to discuss prisoner swaps. Mohammed Ali Al-Emad, a brother of a top Houthi politician, told AP the talks are aimed at paving the way for possible cease-fire negotiations.

Speaking to the Arabic satellite channel Al-Arabiya, Saudi-led coalition spokesman Brig. Gen. Ahmed Al-Assiri said Wednesday there were no direct talks with the Houthis, but that there were talks with tribal figures who are serving as mediators.

The coalition said it had “responded positively” to a request from the delegation “to create a state of calm on the Yemeni border to make way for the entry of medical and relief materials.”