Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed to have captured an alleged Israeli cargo ship in the Red Sea, declaring all vessels associated with Israel as legitimate targets for their armed forces. Yahya Sare’e, a spokesperson for the group, stated that these military actions would persist until the aggression against Gaza and the West Bank ceased.
However, Israel refuted these claims, identifying the vessel as a British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship. It labelled the incident as an “Iranian act of terrorism,” expressing concerns regarding its potential impact on global maritime security. Israel clarified that the ship, known as the Galaxy Leader, was not Israeli but staffed by civilians of various nationalities and was en route from Turkey to India.
Japan confirmed the seizure of the Nippon Yusen-operated Galaxy Leader and appealed to the Houthis for the prompt release of the ship and its crew. Additionally, Japan sought the assistance of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iran in facilitating the vessel’s swift return.
A US military official denounced the ship’s seizure as a blatant breach of international law, demanding the immediate release of the vessel and its crew. Consultations with allies and UN partners were initiated to determine appropriate actions.
According to Marine Traffic tracking, the Galaxy Leader had departed from Körfez, Turkey, en route to Pipavav, India, before losing communication southwest of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
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