Yemen’s Houthi rebels have freed the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier that was captured in November 2023 amid their escalated assaults on commercial shipping in the Red Sea related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. This recent action represents a possible attempt by the Iranian-backed group to alleviate tensions following a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. In the meantime, the U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to reinstate a terrorism designation against the Houthis—previously lifted by President Joe Biden—raising the possibility of renewed friction with the group.
The Houthis announced that the crew was released due to mediation efforts by Oman, a nation that has traditionally acted as a mediator in the region. Shortly after the announcement, an Oman Royal Air Force jet departed for Yemen and returned roughly an hour later with the crew, who appeared relieved and happy as they landed in Muscat. The Houthi leadership also disclosed that Hamas had a role in requesting the release of the 25 crew members, who hailed from countries including the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Mexico.
In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. celebrated the liberation of 17 Filipino sailors, expressing great joy upon their return home to reunions with family and government officials. Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that two of its citizens, the ship’s captain, Lyubomir Chanev, and his assistant, Danail Veselinov, have also been freed. The ministry indicated a government aircraft was on standby to fly them back from Oman.
Hans Grundberg, the U.N. special envoy for Yemen, referred to the release as “heartwarming news,” noting the end to the unjust detention faced by the sailors and their families over the past year. He called on the Houthis, also referred to as Ansar Allah, to pursue further positive actions, specifically urging an end to maritime attacks.
The Galaxy Leader was reportedly seized due to its affiliation with Israel, triggering the Houthis’ campaign against vessels in international waters in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. A representative from the ship’s owners chose not to comment on the situation. The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader is linked to Israeli billionaire Abraham “Rami” Ungar, known for his significant wealth in Israel. The hijacking involved a helicopter-borne raid, and the Houthis have frequently showcased propaganda footage from the incident, even producing a music video on board at one point.
Following a ceasefire in Gaza, the Houthis indicated a shift in their strategy, declaring they would henceforth limit assaults in the Red Sea corridor to vessels associated with Israel, while retaining the option to ramp up attacks if circumstances demanded. However, this change is unlikely to fully restore confidence among international shipping firms, crucial for facilitating cargo and energy movements between Asia and Europe. Houthi aggressions have significantly reduced traffic within the region, adversely affecting revenue for Egypt, which manages the vital Suez Canal.
The decision to release the crew could be perceived as an attempt to gain favor with U.S. officials, although the Galaxy Leader remains anchored off the Yemeni port city of Hodeida. A Yemen expert remarked that this gesture by the Houthis might have been intended to establish goodwill towards Trump’s administration. Meanwhile, Trump has stopped short of rescinding an order directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reinstate the terrorist designation for the Houthis. Rubio has since communicated with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the foreign minister of the UAE, both of whom lead the coalition against the Houthis since 2015.
A statement from the White House emphasized that under President Trump’s administration, the U.S. is committed to collaborating with regional partners to undermine the capabilities and operations of the Houthis, aiming to halt their assaults on U.S. assets, allies, and shipping in the Red Sea. President Biden had previously lifted the designation early in his presidency, citing humanitarian concerns for ordinary Yemenis and to support an active ceasefire in Yemen’s protracted conflict.
Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have launched over 100 strikes against commercial ships using missiles and drones. This escalation followed Hamas’ surprise attack that resulted in numerous casualties in Israel, leading to a significant retaliatory military offensive from Israel that has caused extensive civilian loss in Palestine. The Houthis maintain that their attacks were aimed exclusively at vessels connected to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K.; however, many targeted ships had minimal to no ties to these nations.
Recent weeks have witnessed a decrease in Houthi-hostile activities against maritime targets at sea, possibly influenced by the ongoing U.S. airstrike operations. Reports state that U.S. and allied forces have conducted over 260 strikes against Houthi positions as part of efforts to stabilize the region.
