Crew of Hijacked Galaxy Leader Released by Houthis After Year in Captivity

On January 25, 2025, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the suspension of UN staff movement in territories controlled by Yemen's Houthi rebels, following the detention of seven UN personnel. The UN's decision comes amid escalating humanitarian concerns, as Guterres called for the immediate release of the detained workers, highlighting the detrimental impact their detention has on humanitarian efforts for millions in need. The detentions are reportedly linked to the U.S. designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, a move that has intensified retaliatory actions by the group. This development underscores the worsening humanitarian crisis and growing tensions in Yemen.

The crew of the Galaxy Leader, a Bahamas-flagged commercial ship, has been released by Houthi militants over a year after they seized the vessel off the Yemeni Red Sea coast. The handover took place on January 22, 2025, in a move reportedly linked to a recently established ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. According to Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV, the release of the 25 crew members was coordinated with Omani authorities and represents solidarity with Gaza amid the ceasefire agreement. The crew includes nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico, and Romania, as confirmed by Galaxy Maritime, the ship's owner. The Galaxy Leader was commandeered by Houthi forces on November 19, 2023, shortly after the onset of hostilities in Gaza, and was subsequently escorted to the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah. Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi indicated the group's readiness to intervene if Israel escalates its military actions against Gaza. The Houthis have conducted over 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November 2023, claiming these actions are in support of the Palestinian cause. Such activities have led to significant disruptions in global shipping, forcing companies to reroute their vessels around Africa to avoid danger.

The vice-president of Yemen's UN-backed government, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, has called for the West to take military action against the Tehran-backed Houthi leadership in Yemen, asserting that Iran's recent setbacks in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza have left it significantly weakened. Speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Zoubaidi urged the new US administration to classify the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and emphasized the importance of coordinated airstrikes combined with ground operations led by Yemeni forces. Zoubaidi highlighted the need for a comprehensive military approach targeting the Houthi leadership's strongholds, criticizing current US and UK airstrikes as ineffective due to their lack of coordination. He indicated that the Houthis have threatened commercial shipping in the Red Sea, purportedly as a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The Aden-based government is ready to share intelligence with any entities conducting strikes on Houthi positions and signaled potential cooperation with various countries, including Israel. Zoubaidi's remarks reflect a shift away from the year-old diplomatic efforts aimed at peace in Yemen, underscoring the escalating urgency for military intervention to address the challenges posed by the Houthis.