The Philippines says it expected nine Filipino mariners held by the Houthis since July attack to be released in Yemen.
Published On 3 Dec 2025
Yemen’s Houthi rebels released mariners held since a July attack on a cargo ship in the Red Sea, an assault that killed at least four on board and sank the vessel.
The Houthis, who have targeted ships during Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, said via their Al Masirah TV news channel that Oman had taken custody of the seamen, who were flying to the sultanate on Wednesday.
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Oman did not immediately acknowledge the release. However, a Royal Oman Air Force jet landed earlier Wednesday in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, according to flight-tracking data. Following the Houthi announcement, the plane was tracked leaving Yemeni airspace.
The Philippines said on Tuesday that it expected nine Filipino mariners held by the Houthis since the attack to be released. The Foreign Ministry in Manila described the seamen as being “held hostage by the Houthis” since the July attack.
The Houthis offered no immediate breakdown on the nationalities of those released. It described their forces as rescuing the men after they abando