Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Seize Israeli-Linked Vessel in Red Sea Amid Rising Regional Tensions
In a significant escalation within the volatile Red Sea region, Yemen’s Houthi movement has captured a vessel linked to Israel. The group broadcasted footage showing their use of a helicopter to commandeer the ship, reiterating their commitment to target Israeli and Israeli-owned ships.
Photos from the operation of the Yemeni Naval Forces, seizing the "israeli" ship, the Galaxy Leader, in the Red Sea.
The Houthi spokesperson, Yahya Saree, emphasized that their operations are strictly against Israeli targets, vowing to continue until what they term as “Israeli aggression” in the Gaza Strip ceases. In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office condemned the attack, orchestrated under Iranian directives, stating that the ship was chartered by an Israeli company and had no Israelis onboard.
Extraordinary footage of the Houthi hijack of #GalaxyLeader yesterday. Bold, competent enough and 100% tactically successful. Iranian 🇮🇷 backing and know how through and through. Watch this space…
— Charlie Herbert (@Charlie533080) November 20, 2023
EU’s Borrell Condemns Houthi Action
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, decried the Houthi operation as a grave threat to international maritime safety and a direct challenge to Red Sea navigation. He discussed the growing regional implications of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza with the UN’s envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg.
Legitimate Targets
The Houthis assert that all Israeli vessels are legitimate targets, highlighting the capture of this “Israeli” ship in the Red Sea, near the Hodeidah coast. The incident has intensified fears of an expanding regional conflict, potentially drawing Iran directly into the fray. Tehran, however, has intermittently hinted at its disinterest in escalating the war, with its foreign minister acknowledging that Iran-aligned factions are controlling their operations against Israel and its allies, hinting at further capabilities in reserve.
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Houthi’s Capture of Vessel | Yemen’s Houthi rebels seized a ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea using a helicopter. |
| Houthi’s Stance | Declared Israeli vessels as legitimate targets, aiming to continue operations against Israel. |
| Israeli Response | Condemned the attack, clarified the ship was chartered by an Israeli company, no Israelis onboard. |
| EU’s Reaction | Josep Borrell criticized the seizure as a threat to international maritime safety and Red Sea navigation. |
| Regional Implications | Fears of escalating conflict into a broader regional war, with potential direct involvement of Iran. |
| Iran’s Position | Indicated a lack of interest in war expansion, with its foreign minister stating controlled operations against Israel. |
The conflict, which erupted on October 7, has raised alarms over its potential to evolve into a broader regional war, especially with Iran-backed militias in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen playing a limited role in the conflict thus far.
