The Houthi rebels in Yemen have released the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a commercial vessel seized over a year ago in the Red Sea, marking a significant development in their ongoing campaign of maritime attacks. The release coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump's recent executive order reinstating the group's designation as a foreign terrorist organization. The move adds a new layer of complexity to the geopolitical and humanitarian challenges in the region.
The crew, comprising 25 individuals from various nations including the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Mexico, was handed over to Oman on Wednesday. A Royal Air Force of Oman plane transported the sailors to Muscat, where they disembarked with visible relief. The Houthi rebels stated that the release was facilitated by Omani mediation and aligned with a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
The Galaxy Leader, a Bahamas-flagged vehicle carrier connected to Israeli billionaire Abraham "Rami" Ungar, was seized in November 2023. The Houthis claimed the vessel was targeted due to its Israeli ties, launching an audacious helicopter raid that was widely publicized in rebel propaganda. The ship remains docked near the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida, despite the release of its crew.
The rebels justified the seizure as part of their broader campaign to support Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas conflict. The group intensified its maritime operations after the war broke out, targeting over 100 commercial vessels with missiles and drones. While many of their attacks were reportedly aimed at ships with Israeli, U.S., or U.K. connections, others struck unrelated vessels, further disrupting global trade routes.
President Trump's reinstatement of the Houthis' foreign terrorist organization designation underscores the administration's commitment to curbing their activities. "It is now the policy of the United States to cooperate with regional partners to eliminate the Houthis' capabilities and operations," the White House said. Trump's decision reverses the policy of his predecessor, Joe Biden, who had lifted the designation in 2021 citing humanitarian concerns.
The Houthi attacks have had far-reaching implications, forcing global shipping firms to reroute vessels to avoid the Red Sea corridor. This has increased transit times and costs while reducing revenues for Egypt, which operates the Suez Canal. The International Maritime Organization and the International Chamber of Shipping have called on nations to safeguard seafarers, emphasizing that "innocent seafarers must not become collateral victims in wider geopolitical tensions."
While the release of the Galaxy Leader crew is seen as a potential goodwill gesture by the Houthis, analysts remain skeptical about its broader implications. Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert, noted that the gesture could be an attempt to curry favor with the Trump administration amid mounting international pressure. However, the Houthis have shown no indication of scaling back their operations in the Red Sea entirely, warning that they are prepared to resume attacks if necessary.
Hans Grundberg, the United Nations' special envoy for Yemen, welcomed the crew's release, describing it as "heartwarming news" that ended over a year of arbitrary detention. Grundberg urged the Houthis to halt all maritime attacks and continue taking steps toward de-escalation.
