Iranian special forces seize Israel-linked ship, escalating regional tensions
Iranian special forces have reportedly seized a commercial vessel, the MSC Aries, with ties to Israel, as it traversed the Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday. The Portuguese-flagged ship is linked to Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer. Footage obtained by Reuters suggests troops rappelled onto the vessel from a helicopter approximately 50 miles off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
This incident unfolds against a backdrop of heightened tensions following an airstrike that destroyed Iran’s consulate in Damascus earlier in April. Israel has warned Iran of consequences should the situation escalate further. The MSC Aries was last tracked near the UAE coast before its tracking system was disabled, a common practice for Israeli-affiliated ships in the region.
The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed the vessel’s seizure, attributing it to “regional authorities” without mentioning Iran’s involvement. However, Iranian state media has proudly touted the involvement of their special forces, stating the ship is being transported to Iranian waters.
The vessel, managed by MSC and leased from Gortal Shipping Inc, a company associated with Ofer’s Zodiac Maritime, had 25 crew members onboard at the time of the seizure. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has urged the European Union to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist organization and impose sanctions on Iran.
This incident adds to a series of ship seizures by Iranian forces since 2019, amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. While Israel refrains from direct comments on the attack, US officials have repeatedly warned of Iran’s intent to strike Israel. President Joe Biden reaffirmed the US’s commitment to Israel’s defense and warned Tehran against further aggression.
Israel’s military has cautioned that Iran will face consequences for escalating the situation. In response to mounting regional tensions, KLM airline has decided to halt flights over Iran. The situation remains volatile as both sides assess the implications of this latest escalation.
