Tehran, IRNA – The Philippines has thanked Iran for facilitating the release of the crew of a British-owned ship that included 17 Filipinos, more than a year after the vessel was seized by Yemeni forces in solidarity with Gaza.
In a letter addressed to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo said Iran’s efforts to secure the sailors’ release show the long-standing friendship between the two countries.
On November 19, 2023, Yemeni forces seized the ship in the Red Sea and brought it into Yemeni waters, as Yemen had promised to target any vessels linked to Israel amid the war in Gaza.
A Yemeni official told Al-Masirah TV that the release of the Galaxy Leader ship followed orders from Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement. The official added that the move was part of Yemen’s efforts to support the ceasefire in Gaza and was done in cooperation with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.
Iran pursued the release and return of the Galaxy Leader crew to their countries through diplomatic channels over the past few months.
9341**4353