Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi insurgents seized the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea, claiming it was an Israeli target.
The ship is owned by a British-based company, operated by a Japanese firm, and has a tenuous Israeli connection through its ownership.
The Houthis declared all ships linked to Israel as legitimate targets.
“All ships belonging to the Israeli enemy or that deal with it will become legitimate targets,” the Houthi insurgents reportedly said.
Chief Houthi negotiator Mohammed Abdul-Salam said that “the language of force,” is what Israel understands.
“The detention of the Israeli ship is a practical step that proves the seriousness of the Yemeni armed forces in waging the sea battle, regardless of its costs,” proclaimed the Yemeni spokesman.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement saying, “This is another Iranian act of terrorism that represents an escalation in Iran’s belligerence against the citizens of the free world, with concomitant international ramifications vis-a-vis the security of global shipping routes.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) criticized the takeover as “a very serious incident on the global scale.”
Adding, “This is not an Israeli ship.”
The Japanese government spoke out agains the hijackers.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said, “The government of Japan absolutely condemns such an act.”
“We are also urging related countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman and Iran to strongly urge the Houthis to release the ships and sailors as soon as possible,” he added.
The incident was denounced by Israel and Japan, with the Japanese government negotiating for the crew’s release.
The Houthis stated this was the first move in a “battle at sea,” prompting warnings to shipping companies in the Red Sea.
The Biden administration had not made a statement about the incident as of Monday.
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