The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced on Saturday that it had seized a ship it claims is "linked to Israel" near the Strait of Hormuz. The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported receiving a report of an incident about 50 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah in the UAE, and authorities are investigating the matter.
An intelligence official in the Middle East attributed the raid to Iran amid broader tensions between Tehran and the West. The Israeli army radio stated that the ship captured in the Strait of Hormuz is partially owned by an Israeli entity. The Iranian armed forces took control of an Israeli commercial vessel near the Strait of Hormuz using helicopters.
A defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, shared a video showing commandos descending onto a group of containers on the ship's deck. One crew member could be heard saying, "Don't go out," and then instructs his colleagues to go to the ship's bridge, as more commandos descend onto the deck. In the video, one commando is seen kneeling over others to provide potential cover fire.
Ongoing Houthi attacks over recent months in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping, forcing companies to reroute their ships on longer and more expensive journeys around Southern Africa, spurring fears of a broader conflict between Israel and Hamas, and destabilization in the region. The Iranian-aligned Houthis have been launching attacks on shipping in the Red Sea for months in solidarity with the Palestinians amid the Gaza war. The United States and the UK have been striking Houthi targets in response to their attacks on ships.
