Sanaa to release nine Filipino crew members of ship sunk in Red Sea

SANAA, Dec. 03 (YPA) – Authorities in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa,  are set to release nine Filipino crew members of a cargo ship that was sunk by Yemeni forces in the Red Sea last June, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced.

In a statement, The Philippines’ foreign ministry said it had received word from Oman that the “nine Filipino seafarers of the ill-fated M/V Eternity C, held hostage by the Yemeni forces (Houthis) in the Red Sea, will be released”.

The statement, which credited the efforts of the Omani government, said the men would first be transferred from Yemen’s capital of Sanaa to Oman before returning home.

A foreign affairs spokesman declined to provide a timeline for the release or say if it was bound by any conditions.

The Philippine government also commended Oman’s role in securing the sailors’ release and stated they would be flown to Oman from Sanaa before their final journey home.”

Yemeni forces had sunk the M/V Eternity C  vessel, last June, citing its alleged links to “Israel”. The attack was part of a series of operations carried out in response to Israeli military aggression in the Gaza Strip.

@E.Y.M