Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy conducted a helicopter operation near the Strait of Hormuz, seizing a container ship, as reported by state news agency IRNA on Saturday.
The IRGC took control of the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries and is currently redirecting it back to Iranian territorial waters, according to IRNA. The vessel is managed by Zodiac Maritime, a company associated with Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
Efforts to obtain comments from Zodiac Maritime and Eyal Ofer regarding the incident are underway.
Prior to this, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had reported a seizure near the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route, attributing responsibility to 'regional authorities.' However, UKMTO did not provide additional details on the boarding.
The heightened state of alert in the region follows Iran's pledge to retaliate against a suspected Israeli attack on its consulate in Damascus, Syria. Additionally, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have been targeting shipping activities in the Red Sea area.
