International Courant
Yemen’s Houthis say they’ve taken management of an Israeli-owned ship within the southern Crimson Sea, with Israel describing the incident as an “Iranian act of terror” with implications for worldwide maritime safety.
A Houthi army spokesman confirmed to Al Jazeera on Sunday that fighters had hijacked the British-operated cargo ship.
There have been not less than 22 folks on board the Galaxy Chief – reportedly partly owned by an Israeli businessman – en route from Turkey to India.
“Now we have obtained affirmation from a Houthi official that they’ve hijacked this ship. Earlier right this moment (Sunday), they introduced the beginning of operations to assault Israeli-flagged ships. They warned worldwide sailors to not work for such corporations,” mentioned Al Jazeera’s Mohammed al-Attab, talking from Yemen’s capital Sanaa.
“We’re treating the crew in accordance with Islamic norms and rules,” Yemen’s Houthi army spokesman Yahya Saree mentioned in a press release afterward Sunday.
He reiterated the warning that any ship belonging to Israel or those that help it will likely be a reputable goal for Houthi forces.
“We affirm our continuation of army operations towards (Israel) till the aggression and ugly crimes towards our Palestinian brothers in Gaza and the West Financial institution stop,” Saree mentioned.
The Houthis, backed by Tehran, have launched a number of rocket and drone assaults on Israel for the reason that newest assault on the besieged Gaza Strip started on October 7, killing greater than 12,300 Palestinians, together with 5,000 kids.
“The Houthis have carried out various assaults on Iranian targets. We anticipate extra assaults within the coming days,” al-Attab mentioned.
The Israeli authorities known as the hijacking “a really critical occasion on a world degree,” with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace saying Israel was not concerned within the possession of the ship, its operation or the composition of its worldwide crew.
“That is yet one more Iranian act of terror that represents an escalation of Iran’s belligerence towards the residents of the free world, with attendant worldwide penalties for the safety of worldwide delivery lanes,” mentioned a press release from the Prime Minister’s Workplace.
“There have been no Israelis on board the ship,” the report mentioned, including that the 25 crew members are from Ukraine, Mexico, the Philippines and Bulgaria, amongst others.
The Israeli army additionally denied that the ship was Israeli. A press release on
“The ship left Turkey sure for India, crewed by residents of various nationalities, excluding Israelis. It’s not an Israeli ship,” the Israeli army mentioned.
A US protection official mentioned the US is “conscious of the state of affairs and monitoring it carefully.”
“What we perceive is that the delivery firm is partly owned by an Israeli businessman and this could not be the primary time certainly one of its ships has been intercepted. In 2021, certainly one of his ships was additionally focused,” mentioned Al Jazeera’s Sara Khairat, talking from occupied East Jerusalem.
Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Tehran, mentioned there was no proof supplied by Israel that Iran was behind the hijacking.
“That is an accusation made by the Israeli Prime Minister’s workplace with none concrete proof to help it,” she mentioned.
The warfare in Gaza has raised tensions within the area, with worldwide organizations and political leaders warning of a attainable wider regional battle.
“Iran has traditionally distanced itself from these varied armed teams within the Center East which can be towards Israel,” Jabbari mentioned.
“However given Israel’s continued bombing of Gaza and what they name ‘genocide’ towards the Palestinian inhabitants, the Iranians say the battle might unfold.”
Yemeni Houthi rebels seize cargo ship in Crimson Sea, Israel blames Iran | Israeli-Palestinian Battle Information
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