Yemen’s Houthi rebels hijack an Israeli-linked ship in the Red Sea and take 25 crew members hostage

Yemen’s Houthi rebels seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in the Red Sea, taking 25 crew members hostage. This raised concerns about escalating regional tensions amid the Israel-Hamas war. The rebels claimed the hijacking was due to the ship’s connection to Israel.

The Houthi rebels are an Iran-backed group based in Yemen. They hijacked the ship, named Galaxy Leader, because of its association with Israel. They vowed to target ships linked to or owned by Israelis until the Israel-Gaza campaign ended.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office blamed the Houthis for the attack on the ship, emphasizing it was affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. However, they insisted the ship was British-owned and Japanese-operated.

The rebels stated that they were treating the crew members “in accordance with their Islamic values,” but specific details were not provided.

Israeli officials condemned the seizure as an “Iranian act of terror,” and the U.S. considered it a significant global incident. The Red Sea is a crucial trade route, and fears of a wider regional conflict have grown due to ongoing military operations.

Satellite tracking data showed that the Galaxy Leader was in the Red Sea, southwest of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and had its Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned off at the time of the seizure. The ship had been in Korfez, Turkey, and was en route to Pipavav, India.

The Red Sea is a vital trade route, extending from Egypt’s Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. It plays a crucial role in global shipping and energy supply transportation, which is why the U.S. Navy has stationed ships in the region since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Yes, the Houthi rebels have previously threatened to target Israeli ships in the waters off Yemen.