The Yemeni armed forces released a video showing how they seized an Israeli ship in the Red Sea and brought it to the Yemeni coast. The footage was aired by the "Al-Masirah" channel the day after the ship was captured. The Houthi group claimed that the ship is linked to Israel, while Israel stated that the detained vessel is owned by British nationals operated by Japanese crew members. The video shows a helicopter flying over the ship and dropping armed men to capture it.
The Houthis renewed their "warning to all ships belonging to Israel or dealing with it that they will become legitimate targets for the armed forces," urging all countries that have their nationals working in the Red Sea to stay away from any activities or operations with Israeli ships or ships owned by Israelis.
**The Owner Company**
The owner of the ship, Galaxy Leader, stated that military personnel illegally boarded it via a helicopter on Sunday and that it is now located at the port of Al-Hudaydah in Yemen. The shipping company, Galaxy Maritime, registered in the Isle of Man, added in a statement on Monday, "All communications with the ship have been lost." They further emphasized, "As a shipping company, we will not comment further on the political or geopolitical situation."
**Course Diversions**
Shipping data and British maritime security company Ambrey indicated that two commercial ships changed their routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, linked to the same company from which the Houthis seized a vessel. The chief spokesperson for the Japanese government confirmed the seizure of the Galaxy Leader managed by Nippon Yusen, calling on the Houthis to release the ship and requesting the assistance of Saudi, Omani, and Iranian authorities to work for the rapid release of the ship and its crew.
Ambrey reported on Monday that two other vessels listed as managed by Ray Car Carriers, Glovis Star and Hermes Leader, altered their navigation paths on Sunday. The Hermes ship had set a course to the south of the port of Nishtun in Yemen when it changed its journey. Ambrey added, "The ship continued sailing back to where it came from, showing a new destination on the ship tracking system, that destination being Hambantota in Sri Lanka." They noted, "The ship experienced operational disruption for at least four days and sailed an additional distance of 1,876 nautical miles."
Ship tracking data today indicated that the Glovis Star drifted for several hours in the Red Sea before resuming its journey. The Galaxy Maritime company, listed as the beneficial owner of Galaxy Leader, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Galaxy Maritime stated, "The ship's owners and operators view its detention as a flagrant violation of the freedom of navigation for the world's vessels and a serious threat to international trade." They added, "Our primary concern at this time is the safety and security of the 25 crew members held by the perpetrators of this criminal act."
**The American Response**
The United States condemned the seizure of the cargo ship by the Houthi group in the Red Sea, describing it as a violation of international law and calling for the immediate release of the ship and its crew. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated at a press conference, "The Houthis' seizure of the Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea is a flagrant violation of international law." He added, "We demand the immediate release of the ship and its crew, and we will consult with our allies and partners at the United Nations on appropriate next steps."
