Egypt brings back home 32 fishermen detained by Yemeni Houthis

Thirty-two Egyptian fishermen detained by Houthi rebels in Yemen have returned home, Expatriate Affairs Minister Nabila Makram announced, after nearly two months in detention for having breached Yemeni waters.

A special flight carrying the fishermen arrived at Cairo airport on Tuesday evening, state television footage showed, with Makram receiving the fishermen at the airport.

The fishermen were detained by Houthi rebels in December as they attempted to fish in restricted zones in the Red Sea extending to Yemen's Aden.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has praised the moves to bring the fishermen home.

"I have followed with all pride exerted efforts to end the detention of 32 fishermen in Yemen. Such efforts have led to preserving their lives and transferring them safety to Egypt," El-Sisi said.

Egyptian fishermen have been arrested in the territorial waters of neighbouring countries like Sudan, Libya and Tunisia on several recent occasions.

Egypt’s foreign ministry has repeatedly intervened in these cases to ensure the release of the fishermen and has warned against trespassing in foreign waters.