17 Indians aboard Israeli vessel seized by Iran
In a post on ◣, Iranian staterun news agency IRNA quoted an informed source to confirm the seizure of the “foreign vessel” in the Persian Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz. Other Iranian media reported that the vessel was the MSC Aries. The United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations agency also confirmed the incident.
The vessel is owned by Londonheadquartered Zodiac Maritime, which is owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer, and has been chartered to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which is headquartered in Switzerland.
Israel Katz, Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said on ◣ that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard corps had seized a Portuguese civilian cargo ship, belonging to a member of the European Union, and claiming Israeli ownership. Calling it a “pirate operation” in violation of international law, he added, “I call on the European Union and the free world to immediately declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guards corps as a terrorist organization and to sanction Iran now.”
U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin held a telephonic conversation with Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant to discuss “urgent regional threats” and “reiterated unwavering U.S. support for Israel’s defence”. Secretary Austin made clear that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against any attacks by Iran and its regional proxies, the Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.
Adrienne Watson, Spokesperson of the U.S. White House National Security Council, condemned the seizure by Iran, terming it a blatant violation of international law. “We strongly condemn the Iranian seizure of the Portuguese flagged, Britishowned MSC AIRES in international waters. The crew is comprised of Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian & Estonian nationals. We call on Iran to release the vessel & its international crew immediately,” she said on ◣.
Seizing 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, she further stated. “It must be condemned unequivocally, and we will work with our partners to hold Iran to account for its actions”.
Indian Navy operation
Against the backdrop of the Houthi attacks, Somali pirates have also become increasingly active, with a string of piracy attempts in the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa.
In response, the Indian Navy has deployed in strength and thwarted several piracy attempts. From December 2023 till late March 2024, this has involved the deployment of over 5,000 Naval personnel at sea, over 450 ship days, in more than 21 ships, and 900 hours of flying by maritime surveillance aircraft to address threats in the maritime domain, Navy Chief Adm. R. Hari Kumar had said on March 23, as Operation Sankalp completed 100 days.