Yemen's Houthi rebels seize Israeli cargo ship in Red Sea
Reports surfaced indicating that Yemen's Houthi rebels have seized control of a cargo vessel in the southern Red Sea and directed it towards a Yemeni port.
The Houthi faction, exerting control over northern Yemen and its Red Sea coastline, asserted that the captured ship belonged to Israel.
Israel refuted this claim, identifying the vessel as a British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship, devoid of any Israeli nationals on board.
Around 25 individuals were aboard the Galaxy Leader, which reportedly has partial ownership attributed to an Israeli businessman and sails under the flag of the Bahamas. Public shipping databases trace the ship's ownership to Ray Car Carriers, associated with Abraham "Rami" Ungar, known for his significant wealth in Israel.
When approached for comment by The Associated Press news agency, Ungar acknowledged awareness of the incident but refrained from providing details until further information became available. Notably, a vessel linked to Ungar encountered an explosion in the Gulf of Oman back in 2021, an incident that Israeli media attributed to Iran at the time.
A spokesperson representing the Houthi group issued a statement on Sunday, indicating a warning that all ships owned or operated by Israeli entities or bearing the Israeli flag could be subject to potential targeting.
The situation concerning the seized cargo ship remains tense amid conflicting reports regarding its ownership and destination, underscoring escalating tensions in the region.
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