Philippines thanks Iran for helping in repatriating Galaxy Leader crew
The Philippines has thanked Iran for assistance in repatriating the crew of the UK-owned cargo ship Galaxy Leader, more than a year after Yemen's Armed Forces seized the Israeli-linked vessel in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians in the Gaza.
In a letter addressed to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo expressed gratitude and appreciation for the efforts of the Islamic Republic in facilitating the return of 17 Filipino sailors from the Galaxy Leader vessel to their homeland.
“Manalo said Iran’s help shows the age-old relations between Tehran and Manila and also their good-faith ties. The Filipino foreign minister then appreciated Iran’s precious cooperation and support,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
As part of its campaign in support of Palestinians in Gaza, Yemen seized the Bahamas-flagged, Japanese-operated Galaxy Leader owned by a British company, which in turn is partially owned by Israeli tycoon Abraham (Rami) Ungar.
The seizure took place in the Red Sea through a helicopter-borne Yemeni operation in November 2023.
Since then, the vessel’s 25-strong crew – 17 Filipinos, three Ukrainians, two Bulgarians, two Mexicans and a Romanian – had been held in Yemen.
In recent months, Tehran had been pursuing the issue of the release and repatriation of the Galaxy Leader crew through diplomatic channels.
Last week, Iran welcomed Yemen's measures to release the crew of the ship.
Mohammad Alibek, an assistant to Iran's foreign minister and the director general for the Persian Gulf Affairs in the Iranian foreign ministry, said at the time that his office had been following up on the matter through communication with relevant parties in Yemen.
“We are now pleased that, with the sincere cooperation of [Yemen's] Ansarullah [resistance movement], the crew of the ship will return to their respective countries,” he added.
The crew members returned to their respective countries on January 23, via Oman.
Previously, the Mexican government had also expressed its appreciation to Iran for its assistance in repatriating several Mexican nationals from the Galaxy Leader vessel.
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