Yemen’s Houthis release 9 mariners held since July ship attack

Mariners who had been held since a July 7 attack on a cargo ship in the Red Sea, an assault that resulted in the deaths of at least four people aboard the ship, were released by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

The Houthis, who have targeted ships in Israel’s genocidal conflict in Gaza, reported via their Al Masirah TV news channel that Oman had taken control of the sailors who were arriving in the Sultanate on Wednesday.

Oman refused to acknowledge the release right away. According to flight-tracking data, a Royal Oman Air Force jet touched down in Yemen’s capital on Wednesday. The plane was tracked leaving Yemeni airspace after the Houthi’s announcement.

The Philippines predicted the release of nine Houthis-trained Filipino mariners on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the country. Since the July attack, the seamen have been held hostage by the Houthis, according to the Foreign Ministry in Manila.

The Houthis did not provide a quick breakdown of the countries represented by those released. After the attack, their forces left the damaged ship and were able to rescue the men.

During the Gaza truce, Houthis stop firing.

Six of the men, without expressions, were depicted in an image released by Al Masirah on Wednesday wearing the black and white checkered keffiyeh scarf that is frequently associated with the Palestinians.

11 people were also killed when the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Eternity C was attacked.

In their campaign, the Houthis used drones and missiles to attack more than 100 ships, sinking four of them. At least nine mariners have been killed in the attacks, including one ship’s crew member who was killed in October from his wounds aboard the Minervagracht.

It was unclear why the Houthis have been holding the mariners for months in the past.

During an earlier ceasefire in Israel’s genocidal conflict with Gaza, the Houthis halted their attacks on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. After Trump ordered a series of airstrikes against them, they later became the target of a truce with the rebels that had been reached.