Confirming the hijacking, the Israel Defense Forces posted on Twitter – “The hijacking of a cargo ship by the Houthis near Yemen in the southern Red Sea is a very serious incident for the world. The ship was bound for India from Turkey. “Different nationals of various countries are employed in it. No Israelis are involved. It is not an Israeli ship.”
The hijacking of a cargo ship by the Houthis near Yemen in the southern Red Sea is a very serious incident of global consequence.
The ship had sailed from Turkey to India, carrying citizens of various nationalities, including Israelis. It is not an Israeli vessel.— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 19, 2023
“Israel strongly condemns the Iranian attack on an international ship. The ship is owned by a British company and operated by a Japanese company,” Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s office wrote in a post on Twitter. It was hijacked by Yemen’s Houthi militia. under the guidance of Iran.”
“We took an Israeli cargo ship off the coast of Yemen,” news agency AFP quoted a Houthi official as saying. A source in the coastal city of Hodeida said the ship had been moved to the port city of Salif, AFP reported.
“On board are 25 crew members of various nationalities, including Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Filipino and Mexican. There are no Israelis on board,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office posted.
The ship has 25 crew members of various nationalities, including Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Filipinos and Mexicans.
No Israelis onboard.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) November 19, 2023
“The Bahamian-flagged vessel is registered under a British company. She is partly owned by Israeli businessman Abraham Ungar. The vessel is leased to a Japanese company,” The Times of Israel reported.
The Iran-backed Houthis have vowed to target Israeli-affiliated ships in the Red Sea. “Yemen’s armed forces… confirm that they will continue to use effective means with missiles and drones until the Israeli offensive ceases,” said a Houthi military statement broadcast on the rebels’ al-Masirah TV earlier this month. . will continue to attack.”
The Houthis captured Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and have seized control of large parts of the country. Earlier they carried out attacks in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, after which a military operation was launched against the rebels.