Iran hijacks “Israeli” ship near Strait of Hormuz

MENA

Published: 2024-04-13 13:01

Last Updated: 2024-05-05 22:53


Screencap of the video seen by AP shows an Iranian helicopter boarding the ship.
Screencap of the video seen by AP shows an Iranian helicopter boarding the ship.

A video seen by the Associated Press shows Iranian commandos raiding an "Israeli" ship near the Strait of Hormuz onboard a helicopter on Saturday.

A Middle Eastern defense official said that Iran was behind the attack. The vessel -MSC Aries- was flying the flag of Portugal with 20 Filipinos on board and was bound for India.

The ship is partially owned by Zodiac Maritime, a company part of “Ofer Global” chaired by “Israeli” billionaire and businessman Eyal Ofer.

The detained ship is currently being moved to Iranian waters - according to Iran’s official news agency “IRNA”.

Maritime Security firm Ambrey said it "observed still footage of at least three individuals fast-roping from a helicopter onto what appeared to be a container ship", adding that Iran's Revolutionary Guards "have previously used this method of boarding".

*Stay informed with our carefully curated content delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates and in-depth analysis. Click here to subscribe.