Yemen’s Houthis release Galaxy Leader crew after more than a year, according to Al Masirah TV
DUBAI (Reuters) – Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have released the crew of the Galaxy Leader more than a year after they seized the ship off the coast of Yemen, Al Masirah TV reported on Wednesday.
Al Masirah TV, owned by the Houthis, said the crew was handed over to Oman in “coordination” with the Palestinian militant group Hamas following a Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israel.
Galaxy Maritime, the ship’s owner, said the ship’s crew consisted of 25 nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania.
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The ship is chartered by Nippon Yusen Line.
After the war broke out between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on November 19, 2023, the Bahamas-flagged car transport ship was boarded by the organization at sea and taken to the port of Hodeidah controlled by the Houthi armed forces in northern Yemen.
Since the war, the Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea region in what they say is a show of solidarity with the Palestinians.
Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire last week, pausing a 15-month war that has devastated the Gaza Strip and angered the Middle East.
(Reporting by Jana Choukeir, writing by Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
