Nine Filipino seafarers held captive by Houthis after the July sinking of the cargo ship Eternity C will be released, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Tuesday.

The crew will be transferred from Sanaa, Yemen to Muscat, Oman before they return home, according to the DFA. The release is credited to diplomatic efforts led by the DFA together with the government of Sultanate of Oman.

The Eternity C, a Liberia-flagged vessel, had been attacked by the Houthis with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades in early July. The attack forced the crew to abandon ship; the vessel eventually sank.

Rescue teams managed to pull several crew members from the water shortly after the attack. However, a number of seafarers remained unaccounted for.

The Philippine government welcomed the news, expressing “sincerest appreciation” to Oman for its role in securing the safe release and repatriation of the sailors.