- As Houthis Rebels ‘Descended From Helicopter’ Onto Ship Linked To Billionaire And ‘Took Crew Hostage’
An Israeli-linked cargo ship in a crucial Red Sea shipping route has been seized by Houthi rebels, according to Israel – which claims Iran was behind the move.
The capture of the vessel, which may be owned by a company belonging to one of Israel’s richest men, raises fears that tensions from the Israel-Hamas war are spreading to a new maritime front.
The Tehran-backed Houthis had earlier threatened to target Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea.
Sources cited three US officials as saying the group had used a helicopter to seize the ship.
They have been firing long-range missile and drone salvoes at Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian Hamas since war with Israel flared up on 7 October.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said 25 crew members of various nationalities, including Bulgarians, Filipinos, Mexicans and Ukrainians but no Israelis, were on board the hijacked Bahamas-flagged ship.
Militants rappelled down from helicopters onto the Galaxy Leader, US defence officials said – a vessel affiliated with one of Israel’s richest men.
Some 25 crew members have been taken hostage, the Houthis said.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said a range of nationalities were among the crew, including Bulgarian, Filipino, Mexican and Ukrainian, but no Israelis.
The Houthis said they were treating the crew members “in accordance with their Islamic values” but did not elaborate.
While Israeli officials insist the ship was British-owned and Japanese-operated, ownership details in public shipping databases associate its owners with Ray Car Carriers, which was founded by Israeli billionaire Abraham Ungar.
Mr Ungar told the Associated Press he was aware of the incident but couldn’t comment as he awaited details.
International shipping often involves a series of management companies, flags and owners stretching across the globe in a single vessel.
The hijacking occurred 90 miles off the coast of Yemen, where the Houthis are based, near the coast of Eritrea, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations.