The Yemeni Armed Forces announced that "naval forces conducted a military operation in the Red Sea, resulting in the seizure of an Israeli ship and its escort to the Yemeni coast," confirming that they "are dealing with the ship's crew according to the teachings and values of our Islamic faith." They reiterated their "warning to all ships belonging to the Israeli enemy or operating with them that they will become legitimate targets for the armed forces," urging "all nations whose citizens operate in the Red Sea to refrain from any actions or activities with Israeli ships or those owned by Israelis."
The armed forces emphasized their "continuation of military operations against the Israeli enemy until the aggression on the Gaza Strip stops and the ongoing heinous crimes against our Palestinian brothers in Gaza and the West Bank cease." They also stated that the entity threatening the security and stability of the region and international routes is the Zionist entity, and that the international community, if concerned about the security and stability of the region and preventing the expansion of conflict, must halt Israeli aggression on Gaza.
Media sources reported that the Houthis had seized an Israeli ship called "Galaxy Leader" in the Red Sea, with 22 individuals on board. The reports indicated that the ship is owned by an Israeli named Rami Ungar, a businessman, and stated that there were no Israelis on the vessel, with the crew numbering 22 people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that the seized ship, whose name was not mentioned, is not owned or operated by Israelis, nor does it have Israeli citizens among its international crew. The office added, "There were no Israeli nationals on board the ship."
Netanyahu's office further stated: "This is a new Iranian terrorist act representing an escalation in Iran's aggression against the citizens of the free world, with international implications for the security of global shipping routes."
A leader from the Ansar Allah group noted that "our forces led the Israeli ship to the shores of Yemen in support of the people of Gaza."
In response, Israeli army spokesperson Avichai Adraee mentioned that there are no Israelis on board the ship seized by the Houthis. He tweeted that "the kidnapping incident of the cargo ship by the Houthis near Yemen in the Red Sea is considered a serious incident on a global level," adding that "the ship is not Israeli; it is a vessel that set off from Turkey on its way to India with an international crew without any Israelis."
This development came just hours after the Houthi group threatened to target Israeli ships today, stating in a statement that they "will target all types of ships, whether they carry the Israeli flag, are operated by Israeli companies, or are owned by Israeli firms."
