1 of 2 | A screen grab taken from a handout video released by the Houthis military media center on 09 July 2025 shows the Liberian-flagged bulker, Eternity C, sinking after being attacked in the Red Sea off the port city of Hodeidah, Yemen. File Photo by Houthis Military Media Center/EPA
Dec. 4 (UPI) — The Iran-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen have released 11 crew members of the Eternity C shipping vessel, according to Oman, which said the released individuals were now in Muscat.
Oman’s Foreign Ministry announced the development Wednesday.
The Filipino and Indian crewmen were transported from Sana’a to the Omani capital of Muscat aboard a Royal Omani Air Force aircraft, it said. The foreign nationals will soon be returned to their home countries, the ministry added.
Eternity C, a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, was attacked by the Houthi militants as it was attempting to cross the Red Sea in July.
The ship was sunk and its crew captured.
The Philippines’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that it had been informed by Omani authorities that nine Filipino sailors of the Eternity C would be released after being held hostage for months.
“The Philippine Embassy in Muscat and the Migrant Workers Office-Muscat will make arrangements for the safe and immediate return of the Filipinos to the Philippines,” it said in a statement. “The Philippines expresses its sincerest appreciation to the Sultanate of Oman.”
The vessel was attacked amid the Houthis’ military blockade of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, launched November 2023, shortly after the war between Hamas and Israel began, stating it was in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Eternity C was initially struck by five rocket-propelled grenades on July 7, and was surrounded by smaller Houthi boats.
According to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, the vessel was under continuous attack on July 8. Overnight, search-and-rescue operations were launched, saving five crew members.
Four crew members were killed in the attack.