MANILA, Philippines — The recent release of 25 crew members from the MV Galaxy Leader, including 17 Filipinos, by the Houthi rebels, while a positive development, is insufficient as the ship they seized illegally was still with them, the US State Department said.
In a statement shared by the US Embassy in Manila on Friday, it said, “The Houthis unlawfully detained the crew after seizing their vessel violently over a year ago. The Houthis have still not released the MV Galaxy Leader itself, which is considered stolen property. Houthi attacks have endangered the lives of seafarers, hindered the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance, and harmed economies across the region.”
The State Department further added, “We must not be distracted by this inadequate action from the Houthis. Within Yemen, the Houthis continue to arrest and detain hundreds of local staff members from the UN, NGOs, and diplomatic missions under terrible conditions, including dozens of current and former Yemeni staff members of the United States government who are unlawfully held based on false accusations.”
