“The Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis freed the Galaxy Leader cargo ship with an international civilian crew, including a Ukrainian one, which they seized in the Red Sea in November 2023. Source: Reuters citing Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV Details: The Houthis said the crew was freed “in coordination” with Oman and handed over to Omani authorities.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
The Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis freed the Galaxy Leader cargo ship with an international civilian crew, including a Ukrainian one, which they seized in the Red Sea in November 2023.
Source: Reuters with reference to Al Masirah TV, owned by the Houthis
Details: The Houthis said the crew was freed “in coordination” with Oman and handed over to Omani authorities. They added that the release of the sailors took place because Israel and Hamas agreed on a cease-fire in Gaza.
The ship’s crew consists of 25 citizens of Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania.
The UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said in his statement that “the release of the crew is a moving news that puts an end to arbitrary detention.”
The Houthis have carried out more than 100 attacks on ships plying the Red Sea since November 2023, saying they were acting in solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel.
What preceded:
- The Israel Defense Forces announced on November 19, 2023 that the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis had captured the Galaxy Leader cargo ship with an international civilian crew, including a Ukrainian one.
- The statement said the ship was traveling from Turkey to India with an international civilian crew and no Israelis were on board.