Manila: The foreign minister of the Philippines, Enrique Manalo, has expressed gratitude towards Iran for its role in facilitating the release of the crew from the Galaxy Leader, a British-owned ship that included 17 Filipino members.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Manalo conveyed his appreciation in a letter to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. He highlighted that Iran's efforts to secure the sailors' release reflect the enduring friendship between the Philippines and Iran.

A Yemeni official informed Al-Masirah TV that the release of the Galaxy Leader was ordered by Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen's Ansarullah movement. It was part of Yemen's initiative to support the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza and was coordinated in collaboration with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

On November 19, 2023, Yemeni forces had seized the ship in the Red Sea, bringing it into Yemeni waters. This action was in alignment with Yemen's commitment to target vessels linked to Israel as a gesture of support for Gaza.

Iran engaged in diplomatic negotiations over several months to ensure the safe release and return of the Galaxy Leader crew to their respective countries.