India on Thursday welcomed the safe return of Indian crew member Anilkumar Raveendran, an Army veteran from Kayamkulam in Kerala, who Houthi rebels had held in the conflict-hit region of Yemen.

Raveendran, 52, who belongs to Pathiyoor, had been in the custody of security forces under the Houthi-controlled Yemeni administration since July 7.

He had been working as a security officer on the Liberian-flagged cargo ship MV Eternity C when the vessel was attacked and later sunk in the Red Sea.

The Ministry of External Affairs announced his release and said, "Government of India welcomes the release of Indian crew member Mr Anilkumar Raveendran, who was on the ship MV Eternity C and under detention in Yemen since 07 July 2025."

The ministry confirmed that Raveendran arrived in Muscat, Oman, on Wednesday and is expected to return home soon.

It also said that "Government of India had been coordinating efforts with various parties to ensure his safe release and return," and expressed deep gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman for helping secure his release.

The MV Eternity C was on its way to the Israeli port of Eilat when it was targeted as Houthi militants increased attacks on international shipping during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.

The rebels seized the ship before destroying it. The vessel had crew members from India, the Philippines, Russia and Greece on board at the time.

Four crew members lost their lives in the attack, while six others, including Augustin from Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram, were rescued by the European Union Naval Force and were sent back home within a week.

However, 11 members of the crew, including Raveendran, continued to remain in captivity until his release.

Raveendran had joined the shipping company five years ago through the Palakkad-based agency Ocean Group Overseas Consultancy.

Before his stint with the maritime sector, he had served in the Indian Army for 19 years.