Houthis to free nine Filipino sailors seized after Red Sea attack

Nine Filipino crew members of a cargo vessel destroyed in a Houthi attack in the Red Sea are set to be released, Philippine authorities announced.

The sailors were part of the crew of the Liberian-flagged Eternity C, one of two commercial ships sunk within days of each other in July. The Houthis had released video footage of the strike at the time, claiming they had “rescued” an unspecified number of crew members and moved them to a safe location, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

In a statement, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said it had received confirmation from Oman that the “nine Filipino seafarers of the ill-fated M/V Eternity C, held hostage by the Houthis in the Red Sea, will be released.” The ministry credited the Omani government for its diplomatic efforts and added that the men would first be transferred from Sana'a to Oman before being repatriated.

A spokesperson for the foreign ministry declined to provide a timeline for their release or comment on whether any conditions were attached.

The July sinkings of the Eternity C and Magic Seas ended a months-long lull in Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea—strikes the group claims are aimed at Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians amid the Gaza war that began in October 2023.

The escalation has forced numerous shipping companies to redirect vessels away from the waterway, which typically handles about 12 percent of global trade.

By Vafa Guliyeva