In a significant humanitarian breakthrough, Oman has successfully negotiated the liberation of eleven seafarers from the sunken cargo vessel Eternity C, who had been detained by Houthi forces in Yemen. The multinational crew—comprising nine Filipino nationals, one Indian, and one Russian—was transported via Omani Royal Air Force aircraft from Sana’a to Muscat on Wednesday, marking the culmination of a complex diplomatic effort.
The Liberia-flagged, Greek-operated Eternity C met its fate in July after sustaining repeated assaults from Houthi militants employing sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades in the Red Sea. Following the attack, crew members were initially rescued from the waters but were subsequently taken into custody by the Iranian-backed group, with one security guard reportedly among those held.
Oman’s Foreign Ministry formally confirmed the operation, stating its humanitarian efforts valued the cooperation of all relevant parties involved. The development comes after the U.S. Mission in Yemen had previously characterized the seafarers’ detention as a kidnapping and demanded their unconditional release.
This incident revives concerns about maritime security in critical Red Sea shipping lanes, where Houthi forces conducted over 100 vessel attacks between November 2023 and December 2024. The group claims these operations represent solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict. Just days prior to the Eternity C incident, another vessel, the Magic Seas, was similarly targeted, though its entire crew was successfully rescued before the ship foundered.
The freed crew members are expected to receive necessary support in Oman before their eventual repatriation to their respective home countries.