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6 months ago
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THE 25 forgotten sailors of the hijacked British-Israeli Galaxy Leader cargo ship were taken captive by the Houthi pirates six months ago today.
Yemen’s government confirmed to The Sun that despite repeated demands for their release, the militia group won’t back down – and Iran is to blame.
Reuters
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Reuters
Reuters
The $50million vessel was hijacked by the Iran-sponsored Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on November 19.
Its entire international crew were taken hostage in what the gunmen clinging to the sides of a helicopter screamed was revenge for Israel’s war in Gaza.
The car carrier was pulled back to Hodeidah in the Houthi-controlled north of Yemen as a trophy to taunt the West and supporters of the militants flocked to the site to share in the spoils of war.
But the fates of the 25 sailors – who mostly hail from the Philippines as well as Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Mexico – remain in the hands of the terror group.
Despite having nothing to do with the conflict, today marks six painful months of their detention.
A spokesperson for Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Sun: “The terrorist militia is still refusing to release any one of them after half a year of captivity as hostages.
“The Yemeni government has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the hostages.
“Despite international appeals, condemnations from the United Nations Security Council, the terrorist Houthi militia did not respond to any humanitarian calls for their release.
“We firmly believe that the most effective approach to securing the release of the hostages is by exerting pressure on the Iranian regime, as it holds significant influence over the decisions made by the terrorist Houthi militias.”
The spokesperson confirmed the detainees include 17 Filipinos, two Bulgarians, three Ukrainians, two Mexicans and one Romanian.
Their identities have been kept from the public.
Following the hijacking, a video was released by the Houthis showing its commanders greeting the crew.
“Anything that you need we are ready to provide it for you,” one of them is heard telling the hostages in the clip.
Nothing has been seen of them since.
Filipino diplomatic sources have said they do not expect the captives to be released until Israel’s war in Gaza is over.
Who are the Houthis?
THE Houthi rebels have spent months terrorising the Red Sea by launching persistent missile and drone attacks on vessels and warships - but who are they?
The Shia militant group who now controls large swaths of Yemen spent over a decade being largely ignored by the world.
However, since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war they sprung from relative obscurity to holding roughly £1trillion of world trade hostage – turning one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes into an active warzone.
Their warped battle cry is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.
Why are they attacking ships?
In October, the rebel group began launching relentless drone and missile attacks on any ships – including warships – they deem to be connected with Israel in solidarity with their ally Hamas.
In reality, they targeted commercial vessels with little or no link to Israel – forcing global sea traffic to largely halt operations in the region and sending shipping prices around the world soaring.
The sea assaults added to the carnage in the Middle East tinderbox as intense ripples from Israel’s war in Gaza were felt across the region – with Iran accused of stoking the chaos.
The Houthi chiefs pledged their Red Sea attacks would continue until Israel stopped its offensive in Gaza.
The group’s chiefs have previously said their main targets are Israel, and its allies the US and Britain.
And despite repeated threats from the West and joint US and UK strikes blitzing their strongholds in Yemen – Iran’s terror proxy appears undeterred.
This week, the militant group claimed to have attacked a US destroyer in the Red Sea.
On Thursday, the ruthless ‘King of the Houthis’ Abdul-Malik al-Houthi pledged once more that all ships heading to Israeli ports will be targeted – and not just in the Red Sea region.
Al-Houthi demanded that China, Russia, Asian and European countries stop transporting goods to Israeli ports.
Reuters
AFPThis week, a Red Cross delegation was allowed to visit the hostages in Hodeidah for the first time since they were detained – but did not share further details on their welfare.
In December, the Isle of Man registered owner Galaxy Maritime Ltd, demanded the return of its ship’s crew, but stated they appeared to be being “treated well”.
In a statement, they said: “The safety and welfare of the crew members remains the priority…. and the modest contact that has been allowed with crew members and their families suggests that the seafarers are being treated as well as can be expected in the circumstances.
“The 25 crew members being held have no connection whatsoever with the current situation in the region,” it said.
“Nothing can be achieved by their further detention.”
For now, the Galaxy Leader remains anchored in Hodeidah, draped in Yemeni and Palestinian flags and anti-American and anti-Israeli banners.
The British-registered Galaxy Leader was hijacked on November 19
Huge groups of male Houthi-supporting tourists are seen onboard the captured tanker
Twisted visitors travelled hundreds of miles to visit the Houthis’ ‘war trophy’
The so-called ‘Hot Houthi’ also dubbed ‘Tim-Houthi Chalamet’ went viral on the dark on TikTok showing tours inside the seized vessel
The US military released an image of the damage onboard True Confidence after a Houthi missile strike killed three in March
A view of the oil tanker Marlin Luanda on fire under attack from Houthis at the end of January
AP
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