Yemen’s Houthi militia announces release of crew of Emirati ship Rwabee

A view of the Emirati-flagged vessel “Rwabee” in the Red Sea seized by Yemen’s Houthi militia and reportedly carrying Saudi military equipment, at an undisclosed location. (File/AFP)

LONDON: The Houthi militia in Yemen has released the crew of the UAE cargo ship RWABEE that was seized on Jan. 3, the group’s spokesman said on Monday.
The release of the crew — 11 in all according to sources familiar with the matter — was agreed with the assistance of Oman, spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam said in a tweet.
He said a detained British man was also released. He did not provide more details. Oman’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday a British man and his wife and child were also released by the Houthis.
The British government earlier identified the man as Luke Symons and said he had been held without charge or trial since 2017.
India welcomed on Monday the release of seven Indian sailors held since the Houthi militia captured the the vessel.
Oman’s government said on Sunday that it had helped secure the release of the seven Indians along with one Filipino, one Indonesian, one Ethiopian, one person from Myanmar, and the Briton.
The Indian foreign ministry said it “would like to thank all concerned parties for the release of the Indian sailors, in particular the Government of Oman.”
When seized in the Red Sea on Jan. 3, the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen fighting the Iran-backed Houthis since 2015 said the ship was carrying medical equipment.
Earlier this month, the warring sides in Yemen’s seven-year conflict agreed to a nationwide two-month cease-fire under a UN-brokered deal, giving humanitarian groups a chance to step up aid to Yemen’s hungry millions. 
(With Reuters and AFP)