Houthis Release Crew of Commercial Shipping Vessel After a Year in Captivity

What Happened?

The Houthi rebels in Yemen released the crew of the commercial ship Galaxy Leader after holding them in captivity for over a year.

At least 25 crew members were set free from imprisonment, including nationals from Mexico, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania and the Philippines.

The crewmembers were handed over to authorities in Oman.

Why it Matters

According to the Washington Post:

‘[The] decision to release the crew was tied to the agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, the Houthi-run al-Masirah news channel reported, citing a statement from the rebel group. The Houthis made the move ‘in coordination with the Hamas movement and the mediation of the Sultanate of Oman’ — a neighbor of Yemen whose government has often mediated between the Houthis and other countries — al-Masirah reported.’

In addition to the release of the crew from the Galaxy Leader, Houthi spokesman have also stated they will only target Israeli vessels off the coast of Yemen from this point forward. Although the reliability of that statement remained unclear.

If true it would represent a significant change for the Houthi. They have targeted commercial vessels from all countries passing through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea since the Gaza War began in 2023.

Nearly 12% of all global shipping passes by Yemen’s coast. The combined value of the goods being transported is nearly $1 trillion dollars.

With training and equipment from Iran, the Houthi evolved from sporadic acts of piracy into a well-armed organized crime syndicate posing a significant threat to commercial shipping. 

According to former Supreme Allied Commander and retired four star admiral James Stavridis, the Houthi have ‘developed a Navy SEAL-like capability’ which they use to target commercial ships both for piracy and attack.

Consequently, many commercial vessels have avoided the area, taking longer and more expensive routes to reach their destinations.

U.S. military operations against the Houthi were substantial in the past year. One carrier strike group alone conducted over 800 attacks against Houthi targets during their tour of duty in the Middle East.

The Houthi have also attacked U.S. Navy ships with both missiles and drones. But to date American Naval vessels have shot down all incoming projectiles and suffered no damage.  

How it Affects You

Houthi attacks on commercial shipping have increased costs for international carriers. It has forced them to sail longer routes, which in turn has contributed to a rise in the costs of goods imported to the United States.

If the Houthi keep their word and refrain from attacking merchant vessels near Yemen, commercial ships are likely to resume their normal routes within a few months.