NewsIran seizes Israeli-owned ship in strategic Hormuz Strait amid escalating tensions

Iran seizes Israeli-owned ship in strategic Hormuz Strait amid escalating tensions

Hot in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranians seized MSC Aries from the air.

Images source: © X

13 April 2024 14:06

In the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian army seized the MSC Aries container ship, flying under the Portuguese flag, with the assistance of helicopters. This ship is owned by the Zodiac group, which belongs to Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer. The Iranian state news agency IRNA confirmed the takeover, with the vessel being directed into Iranian territorial waters.

A video shared online by a member of the container ship’s crew captures commandos descending onto the deck from a helicopter, presumably part of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Reports indicate the vessel was en route from the United Arab Emirates to India, caught at the very start of its voyage. The Strait of Hormuz acts as a crucial link between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, opening into the Arabian Sea.

Authorities in Tehran have remained mute about this incident, although the Iranian state news agency acknowledged the seizure of the container ship. The whereabouts and condition of the MSC Aries crew currently remain uncertain.

Will Iran attack Israel? Rising tensions in the Middle East

This seizure, closely tied to Israel, unfolds against a backdrop of anticipated heightened tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

A recent increase in hostilities was triggered after Israel launched an assault on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, leading to the deaths of seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, inclusive of two generals tasked with Iran's external military engagements.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has vowed retaliation against Israel. "Our brave men will punish the malicious regime. We will make sure that they repent for this and similar crimes, God willing," - he proclaimed