Houthi rebels from Yemen have now released the crew of the Galaxy Leader after holding them hostage for more than a year. The ship was headed from Turkey to India in late 2023 when the rebels seized it in the Red Sea.
What has been happening?
The Iranian-backed Houthis began overtaking ships in the Red Sea, which is a major trade route between Asia and Europe, as well as the Gulf of Aden, shortly after the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October of 2023. The Houthis say they hijacked the Galaxy Leader over its connection to Israel.
Why release the hostages now?
The Houthis say the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas led them to free the 25 crew members, who hail from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Mexico. Now free, the former hostages appeared jubilant as a flight from the Royal Air Force of Oman took them to safety.
The Houthi rebels have indicated they will stop seizing ships in the Red Sea corridor, as long as the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire holds. Reports indicate that over the past year and a half, they have sunk two vessels and killed four people. Other cargo ships were forced to sail around South Africa to avoid the danger.
White House reaction
Upon taking office this week, President Trump designated the Houthis as a foreign-based terror organization.
The White House released a statement, saying, “Under President Trump, it is now the policy of the United States to cooperate with its regional partners to eliminate the Houthis’ capabilities and operations, deprive them of resources, and thereby end their attacks on U.S. personnel and civilians, U.S. partners, and maritime shipping in the Red Sea.”
The United Nations special envoy to Yemen called the release of the Galaxy Leader a step in the right direction.
