Iranian commandos stormed a container ship linked to Israel as it transited the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime passages.
Special forces from the naval branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boarded the MSC Aries early on Saturday, about 80 kilometers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
Footage of the mission, taken by a member of the crew, shows at least three commandos rappelling down a rope from a helicopter onto the ship, a Portuguese-flagged container ship linked to the Israeli naval magnate Eyal Ofer.
The 1,201-foot-long and 168-foot-wide ship left the port of Khalifa in the UAE and was due to arrive in the Indian city of Nhava Sheva before the attack. The latest escalation of tensions between them could, many say, lead Tehran to launch a military offensive against Israel.
Tracking data last placed the MSC Aries near the coast of Dubai just over a day ago. The ship appears to have disabled its tracking data around that time.
Footage of the mission taken by a member of the crew shows at least three commandos rappelling down a rope to the ship from a helicopter
The MSC Aries (photo) is transported to Iranian waters
A missile is launched during a military exercise in southern Iran
Iranians attend the funeral procession for seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps killed in an attack in Syria that Iran blamed on Israel
Britain’s Maritime Trade Operations Agency confirmed the embarkation but made no mention of Iran, saying instead that the ship was “reportedly seized by regional authorities.”
It was later said that the ‘authorities’ were investigating the incident, but gave no further details.
Iran’s state news agency said Iranian commandos were involved in the boarding and said the ship was being transported to Iranian waters, although Iranian officials have not yet commented on the seizure.
This was also confirmed by the ship’s parent company, which said the ship “has since been diverted from its route towards Iran.”
The company added: ‘We are working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure their well-being and the safe return of the ship.’
The White House said the ship’s crew included Indian, Philippine, Pakistani, Russian and Estonian nationals, and an Indian government official added that 17 Indian nationals were aboard the Ram.
White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said: “We call on Iran to immediately release the ship and its international crew.
At least three commandos were seen leaving the Guards store
A photo provided by the Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader shows Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praying before the coffins of members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) killed in Syria.
“The seizure of a civilian vessel without provocation is a blatant violation of international law and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
“It must be unequivocally condemned, and we will work with our partners to hold Iran accountable for its actions.”
The Indian official told the FT: ‘We are in contact with the Iranian authorities, both in Tehran and Delhi, through diplomatic channels to ensure [the] safety, welfare and early release of Indian nationals.”
MSC leases the Aries from Gortal Shipping, a subsidiary of Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac said in a statement, adding that MSC is responsible for all operations of the ship. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
In response to Iran’s attack on the container ship, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told .
“The Ayatollah regime is a criminal regime that supports the crimes of Hamas and is now conducting a pirate operation in violation of international law.
A before and after the strike at the Iranian embassy
Rescuers search the rubble of a building belonging to the Iranian embassy
“I call on the European Union and the free world to immediately declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization and sanction Iran now.”
Meanwhile, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Iran’s seizure of the cargo ship MSC Aries is unacceptable and a blatant breach of international law.
“We call for the unconditional release of the ship and its crew without delay. We are working with partners to prevent escalation in the Middle East. Iran must immediately cease its destabilizing behavior.”
On Tuesday, Revolutionary Guards naval chief Alireza Tangsiri said it could close the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, if deemed necessary.
He said Iran viewed Israel’s presence in the UAE as a threat, with which Israel established diplomatic relations in 2020 as part of the “Abraham Accords” brokered by the United States.
Analyst Hasan Alhasan of the International Institute for Strategic Studies said if the seizure of the MSC Aries was in retaliation for Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, it showed a desire to save face without a broader escalation.
Houthi supporters shout slogans during a rally marking Al-Quds Day in Sana’a, Yemen
An Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the Shahed-136, is displayed in Azadi (Freedom) Square in western Tehran, Iran
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leads the Eid al-Fitr prayer to conclude the holy fasting month of Ramadan for Muslims in Tehran
“Iran may be trying to play on fears that it could hinder shipping through the strait, a passage that is more important to global oil and gas supplies than the Red Sea,” he said.
“If Iran were to limit itself to seizing commercial ships linked to Israel, it would minimize the risk of a full-scale conflict but damage its own credibility,” he added.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group has been disrupting global trade for months with attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, saying it is targeting ships linked to Israel in retaliation for Israel’s campaign in Gaza.
The United States and Britain have previously carried out strikes on Houthi targets in response to the attacks on shipping.
The Joint Maritime Information Center, run by a Western-led naval coalition, said ships planning to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes, should exercise caution and avoid loitering.
Iran previously vowed to take revenge on Israel after its military carried out a rocket attack on its embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, killing 12 people, including two top generals.
Israel has still not publicly responded to the attack, but its allies have warned Iran that support for Israel is “rock solid.”
US President Joe Biden said at a press conference on Thursday: ‘As I told Prime Minister Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its allies is rock-solid. Let me say it again: rock solid. We will do everything we can to protect Israel’s security.”
Biden’s top diplomat, Anthony Blinken, confirmed his words, telling Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a phone call that the US would stand with Israel if Iran decides to attack.
Last week, Major General Rahim Safavi, who served as chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said none of Israel’s embassies were safe after the rocket attack.
US officials said so New York Times that Iran is likely to attack multiple targets in Israel in the coming days.
Little is known about the possible attacks, including what form they might take, what types of targets they will target, and when exactly they will occur.