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Oman helps free Filipino, Indian, Russian crew of Eternity C from Houthis

Rescuers pulled crew members alive from the Red Sea and Houthis later said they were holding a group of the seafarers, including one security guard

Published: Wed 3 Dec 2025, 11:12 PM

The crew of the Greek-operated cargo ship Eternity C, which sank in the Red Sea in July after being attacked by Yemen's Houthis, have been released, an official with the ship's operator and a maritime security source told Reuters on Wednesday.

The Foreign Ministry of Oman on Wednesday also confirmed the release and safe return of the crew members of the Liberia-flagged cargo ship Eternity C, which had been stranded in Yemen. Nine Filipino seafarers, one Russian and one Indian national were expected to leave Yemen and arrive in Oman.

The statement read: As part of Oman’s humanitarian efforts concerning the crew of the ship Eternity in Yemen, the return of the crew — comprising 11 individuals of Filipino and Indian nationalities — was facilitated today. They were transported from Sana’a to Muscat on an Omani Royal Air Force plane, ahead of their repatriation to their home countries. The Sultanate of Oman values the cooperation shown by the relevant parties in completing these efforts.

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The crew of the Liberia-flagged Eternity C abandoned the ship before it sank following repeated strikes by the militants with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades.

Rescuers pulled crew members alive from the Red Sea and Houthis later said they were holding a group of the seafarers, including one security guard.

The US Mission in Yemen had accused the Houthis of kidnapping them and called for their immediate and unconditional safe release.

Days before the Eternity C was struck, Houthis had targeted another ship, the Magic Seas. All crew from the Magic Seas were rescued before it sank.

The strikes on the ships had marked a revival of a campaign by the Houthis who attacked more than 100 ships from November 2023 to December 2024 in what they said was solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza war.