Houthi rebels have released the 25-member crew of the British-owned Galaxy Leader cargo ship, more than a year after the vessel was seized in the Red Sea.
The crew of the ship — which includes mariners from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Mexico — had been held captive by Houthis in Yemen since November 2023. At the time, the rebel group said that they hijacked the Bahamian-flagged vessel because of its alleged ties to Israeli billionaire Abraham Ungar. According to the Associated Press, Houthis handed the sailors over to Oman on January 22 in support of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, just two days after the group said that it planned to limit its attacks on ships moving through the Red Sea.
“Today’s breakthrough is a testament to the power of collective diplomacy and dialogue, recognizing that innocent seafarers must not become collateral victims in wider geopolitical tensions,” International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in a news release. “It is also a return to operations in the Red Sea as we have been accustomed to, and upholding of the freedom of navigation.”
Houthis have attacked more than 100 commercial vessels in and around the Red Sea since October 2023, sinking two and killing four people. In retaliation, the U.S. and its allies have hit the group with over 260 airstrikes, which has slowed the pace of rebel attacks in recent weeks.
