According to confirmation from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines, the 9 Filipino seafarers who were previously held as hostages after the attack on the MV "Eternal C" cargo ship by Houthi militants in Yemen are set to be released and will be transferred from Sana'a to Muscat.

The DFA stated that through months of diplomatic efforts, the news of the impending release of these 9 seafarers has been confirmed by Omani authorities.

The Philippine Embassy in Muscat and the Office of Migrant Workers in Muscat will coordinate the safe and swift return of these seafarers to the Philippines. The Philippine government also expressed its deepest gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman for its contribution to mediating in this matter.

In July 2025, the MV "Eternal C," a bulk carrier flying the flag of Liberia and operated by a Greek company, was attacked multiple times while en route from the Red Sea to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The ship had a total of 22 crew members, with 21 of them being Filipino. At least 4 crew members lost their lives in the attacks, while others went missing or were taken hostage by the Houthi militants.

The Houthi militants later released on-site videos of the ship attack, claiming to have "rescued" some crew members and relocated them to a safe location. This incident marked the first fatalities since June 2024 and was the deadliest attack since the Houthi offensive in November 2023.

Shortly after sinking another vessel named "Magic Seas," also flying the Liberian flag and operated by a Greek company, the Houthi militants carried out this attack. Both ships had visited Israeli ports in the past year, according to shipping data analysis, potentially making them targets for Houthi actions.

Since November 2023, the Houthi militants have attacked over 100 vessels, resulting in at least 7 deaths, severe damage to several ships, and a 60% reduction in shipping traffic in the region compared to historical averages.