Iran-backed Houthi forces have released a cargo ship, the Galaxy Leader, into the care of Oman along with its crew, following Omanian mediation and the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, according to Reuters.
The vessel's crew was made up of 25 nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania, and was chartered by the Japanese company Nippon Yusen.
The ship was boarded on November 19, 2023 and taken to the Houthi-held port of Hodeidah in Yemen, barely a month after the war with Hamas began in Gaza.
The Houthis have been maintaining an effective blockade on shipping via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal between Asia and Europe since around the time the war started, warning any ship with even theoretical affiliation with Israel that it would be attacked by missiles and drones or drone ships.
A US-led naval coalition entered the Red Sea under Operation Prosperity Guardian aimed to protect shipping, maintaining a defensive posture by shooting down missiles and drones but only rarely launching strikes against the Houthis on land.
This changed after a few months as air strikes hit multiple strategic targets throughout Houthi-held Yemen and especially the ports of Hodeidah and Ras Isa.
Israel also maintained a largely defensive posture against Houthi missiles and drones launched from Yemen, intercepting them and ensuring civilians had enough warning to reach shelters.
However, following a small number of breakthroughs by the Houthi missiles and drones, Israel launched four increasingly aggressive air strikes on Houthi strategic installations, knocking out their port facilities and also the international airport in the capital of Sana'a.
With the ceasefire now in effect, the Houthis have restricted the targets they claim they will attack - now only attacking ships directly related to Israel and possibly ceasing attacks on Israel - until the ceasefire is entirely completed.
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