On Sunday, Israel announced that the Houthis in Yemen have taken control of a cargo ship owned by a British company and operated by a Japanese entity in the southern Red Sea. Israel labeled the incident as an “Iranian act of terrorism,” raising concerns for global maritime security.
The Houthis have been launching missile and drone attacks on Israel in support of Hamas since October 7. Last week, the Houthi leader stated their intent to carry out further attacks on Israel, including the possibility of targeting Israeli ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
While there was no immediate response from the Houthis, a spokesperson previously warned that any ship owned or operated by Israeli companies or displaying the Israeli flag could be targeted. The U.S. Defense official mentioned being aware of the situation and closely monitoring it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the seizure of a ship, emphasizing that Israel had no involvement in its ownership, operation, or the composition of its international crew. The ship did not carry any Israelis. Israel condemned the incident as another instance of Iranian-sponsored terrorism, escalating concerns about global shipping route security. The Israeli military reported that the ship seizure occurred in the Red Sea.
