In a recently shared video by the Houthi rebel group, Iran-backed militants are seen conducting a daring helicopter raid on an internationally flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea, subsequently hijacking the vessel and holding its entire crew hostage.
The nearly four-minute footage, released on Monday by the Yemen-based Houthis, provides a glimpse of the dramatic ship seizure that occurred the day before. It commences with a distant view of the Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader before transitioning to a helicopter aggressively landing on the ship’s deck—a bold operation even by Iranian standards.
The video captures armed militants exiting the helicopter, swiftly advancing and taking strategic positions on the deck. They proceed to approach the bridge, entering the pilothouse and issuing commands to a handful of crew members. Additional footage reveals rebels operating from various locations within the ship, alongside scenes of the Galaxy Leader surrounded by smaller speedboats.
A Houthi spokesperson stated on Sunday that the group hijacked the ship due to its alleged connection to Israel. A warning was issued, declaring all ships associated with Israel as “legitimate targets” for military action. The spokesperson advised countries with citizens in the Red Sea to steer clear of any affiliation with Israel-affiliated vessels. In a recently shared video
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the ship is owned by a British company and operated by a Japanese firm, although it is reportedly affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. The office said the 25 crewmembers on board are a handful of nationalities, including Ukrainian and Mexican, but none of them are Israeli. It “strongly” condemned what it asserted was an “Iranian attack.”