17 Filipino seafarers freed by Houthis return home

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Seventeen Filipino seafarers returned home late Thursday after being released by Yemen's Houthi group, local media reported Friday.

The Department of Migrant Workers and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration confirmed their arrival, noting that the seafarers were reunited with their families, according to The Manila Times.

Oman announced Wednesday that its mediation efforts had secured the release of 25 crew members aboard the Galaxy Leader vessel. The group, detained by the Houthi group since November 2023, included nationals from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Mexico, Ukraine, and Romania.

* Written by Islamuddin Sajid.