Yemen's Houthi rebels have released the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle carrier seized in November 2023 at the start of their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war.

The Houthis said over the weekend they would stop attacking transiting vessels as long as the cease-fire holds. But big-box ship operators said it would take some time before secu

Houthis in Yemen have released the 25 crew members of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader, which it seized in November 2023 when an organized campaign of attacks on ships in the Red Sea began, linked to the war in Gaza.

Shipping companies expressed caution about using the shorter route between Asia and Europe that many ships have avoided for more than a year.

The move by the Iranian-backed Houthis marks their latest effort to de-escalate their attacks following a ceasefire in Gaza.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has released the crew of a cargo ship more than a year after its fighters hijacked the vessel in the Red Sea, as part of its campaign of attacks in support of Hamas in its war against Israel.