Yemen’s Houthi rebels have released the crew Galaxy LeadersA vehicle carrier was seized at the beginning of their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea corridor during the Israel–Hamas war in November 2023.
The move by the Iran-backed Houthis marks their latest effort to scale back their attacks following a ceasefire in Gaza. However, this came as US President Donald Trump moved to reinstate the terrorism designation imposed on the group at the end of his first term, which was rescinded by President Joe Biden, potentially leading to further conflict with the insurgents. The stage was set for new tensions.
The Houthis said they released the sailors after mediation by Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula that has long been a negotiator with the Houthis. A jet from Oman’s Royal Air Force took off for Yemen early on Wednesday and took off again about an hour after the Houthi announcement with the crew smiling as they stepped towards freedom in Muscat.
The Houthis also said that Hamas separately requested the release of 25 of the ship’s crew, which included sailors from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Mexico.
“The move is in support of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza,” the Houthis said in a statement on the rebel-controlled SABA news agency.
In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed the release of the 17 Filipino crew members, and described the moment as one of “utmost joy”. Filipinos returned to their country on Thursday to be welcomed by their families and government officials.
Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the release of two Bulgarians, whom authorities identified as the ship’s captain, Lyubomir Chanev, and assistant captain, Daniil Veselinov. The ministry said a government jet was headed to Oman to bring the Bulgarians home.
The UN special envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, called the release of the crew “heart-warming news, which ends the arbitrary detention and isolation they and their families endured for more than a year.” Had tolerated.
“This is a step in the right direction, and I urge Ansar Allah to continue these positive steps on all fronts, including ending all maritime attacks,” he said, using another name for the Houthis.
Vessel linked to Israeli billionaire
The Houthis said they had kidnapped Galaxy Leaders On its relationship with Israel. The attack marked the beginning of a rebel campaign targeting ships in international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb strait that connects them.
a representative for Galaxy LeadersThe owners had no comment Wednesday.
The Bahamas-flagged ship is affiliated with an Israeli billionaire, Abraham “Rami” Unger, known as one of Israel’s richest men.
Houthi attack on Galaxy Leaders Saw rebels attacking from helicopters. Propaganda footage of the raid has been played continuously by the Houthis, who at one point even shot a music video on the ship.
On Monday, the Houthis indicated that they would now limit their attacks to only Israeli-allied ships in the Red Sea corridor after a ceasefire began in the Gaza Strip, but warned that attacks could resume if needed.
However, this probably won’t be enough to encourage global companies to re-enter the route that is vital for cargo and energy shipments between Asia and Europe. Their attacks have halved traffic in the region, drastically cutting revenues for Egypt, which runs the Suez Canal connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.
The release of the ship’s crew now may be an attempt to curry favor with the US, although the ship is still stuck near the Yemeni port city of Hodeida.
“This gesture by the Houthis may be meant as a goodwill measure towards the new Trump administration,” said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert at the Basha Report risk advisory firm.
However, Trump signed an order urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reinstate a foreign terrorist organization designation on the Houthis. Rubio separately called on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, who have led the coalition fighting the Houthis since 2015.
“Under President Trump, the policy of the United States is now to dismantle the Houthis’ capabilities and operations, deprive them of resources, and thereby end their attacks on U.S. personnel and civilians, U.S. partners, and our regional partners. Shipping in the Red Sea,” the White House said.
Biden dropped the designation early in his term, citing the humanitarian threat the sanctions pose to ordinary Yemenis and supporting a de facto ceasefire that is still widely in place in Yemen’s war.
More than 100 commercial ships targeted in Houthi attacks
The Houthis have targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war began in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 and injuring 250 others. Was taken hostage. More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants but say more than half of the dead are women and children.
The Houthis have sunk two ships in their campaign, killing four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by separate US and European-led coalitions in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, including Western military ships.
The rebels said they only targeted ships linked to Israel, the US or Britain, however, many of the ships attacked had little or no connection, including some ships linked to Iran.
The pace of Houthi attacks has slowed in recent weeks, particularly involving ships at sea. This could possibly be due to the American air strike campaign. The US and its allies alone have attacked the Houthis more than 260 times, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
