---
title: "Yemen's Houthis free crew of Galaxy Leader after over a year, Al Masirah TV reports"
description: "DUBAI, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have released the crew of the Galaxy Leader more than a year after they seized their Bahamas-flagged vessel off the Yemeni Red Sea coast, Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV reported on Wednesday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Shipping"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-23-yemens-houthis-free-crew-of-galaxy-leader-after-over-a-year-al-masirah-tv-reports/"
published: "2025-01-23T12:07:44"
updated: "2025-01-23T12:07:46"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 398
---

# Yemen's Houthis free crew of Galaxy Leader after over a year, Al Masirah TV reports

> DUBAI, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have released the crew of the Galaxy Leader more than a year after they seized their Bahamas-flagged vessel off the Yemeni Red Sea coast, Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV reported on Wednesday.

By Reuters · Published 23 January 2025, 14:07 SAST · Updated 23 January 2025, 14:07 SAST

## Key points
- In a plot twist worthy of a high-seas thriller, the crew of the Galaxy Leader, who were held hostage by Houthi forces amidst a raging Gaza conflict, have been released to Oman, leaving maritime safety experts wondering if the real treasure was the friends they made along the way—or just the hope that seafarers won't be the next pawns in geopolitical chess.
- Houthi forces released the crew of the Galaxy Leader, comprising 25 nationals, amid a newly established ceasefire in Gaza.
- The vessel was seized on November 19, 2023, and escorted to Hodeidah, Yemen, following the outbreak of war in Gaza.
- Houthi leader warned of potential intervention if Israel violates the ceasefire, while the UN envoy hailed the crew's release as a positive step.
- Over 100 maritime attacks by Houthis have disrupted global shipping, prompting calls for protection of seafarers amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

## Content

It said the crew were handed to Oman "in coordination" with the three-day-old [ceasefire in Gaza's war](https://www.reuters.com/world/israel-hamas/israel-gaza-ceasefire-latest-2025-01-15/) between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

"The release of the Galaxy Leader crew comes within the framework of our solidarity with Gaza and in support of the ceasefire agreement," it quoted the Houthi Supreme Political Council as saying.

The crew is comprised of 25 nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania, according to the car carrier's owner Galaxy Maritime. The vessel was chartered by [Japan's Nippon Yusen](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3D025D&linkedFromStory=true).

The Galaxy Leader was escorted to the Red Sea port of Hodeidah in Houthi-controlled north Yemen after being boarded by Houthi forces at sea on Nov. 19, 2023, soon after the outbreak of war in Gaza.

Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said on Monday the group, known formally as Ansar Allah, was ready to act if Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

"We are in constant readiness to intervene immediately at any time the Israeli enemy returns to escalation, genocidal crimes and siege of the Gaza Strip," he said.

The U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said in a statement that the "release of the Galaxy Leader crew is heartwarming news that puts an end to the arbitrary detention and separation that they and their families endured for more than a year".

"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," Grundberg said.

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 against Israel's devastating air and ground war against Hamas in Gaza. They have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least four seafarers.

The attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa for more than a year.

"Innocent seafarers must not become collateral victims in wider geopolitical tensions," Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization, said in a statement.

"We call on all nations to support our seafarers and shipping so that this does not happen again," the International Chamber of Shipping said in a statement.

(Reporting by Jana Choukeir; Additional reporting by Menna Alaa El-Din; Writing by Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Mark Heinrich, Alex Richardson and Michael Perry)