Iranian forces seize Israel-linked ship
The vessel belongs to Zodiac Maritime shipping company owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer
Istanbul, Turkey - Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed seizing a container ship belonging to an Israeli businessman near the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions between the arch-foes.
The ship named MSC Aries was seized by the marine unit of the IRGC in a special heliborne operation, state-run news agency IRNA reported on Saturday, confirming earlier reports.
The report said the Portuguese-flagged ship has been directed towards the territorial waters of Iran.
Earlier, Israel’s Channel 14 and Times of Israel reported that the seized vessel belongs to Zodiac Maritime shipping company owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), in a statement, said a ship has been seized in the area, noting that vessels are ‘ advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO’.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region and speculation about Iran’s imminent military strike against Iran in response to an
attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria earlier this month.
At least 13 people were killed in the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, including seven Iranian military advisors, which Iranian authorities blamed on Israel.
Among those killed included
General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander of the IRGC in Syria and Lebanon, and his deputy General Hadi Haj Rahemi. Iran has accused Israel of carrying out the attack and vowed to respond. Israel, however, has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack, but
it has for months carried out a number of strikes against Iranian targets across Syria.
Both Iran and Hezbollah, its main ally in Lebanon, have said that the attack will not go unpunished.
After the attack, top Iranian and military leaders warned of
a ‘decisive response’, with some speculating on Friday that the retaliatory strike would come in less than 48 hours.
Addressing a gathering on Eid al-fitr in Tehran on Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei renewed the threat of retaliation, saying Israel ‘will be punished’ for the attack.
“The evil regime made a mistake in this case and it must be punished and it will be punished,” he said.
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Tel Aviv will respond if Iran attacks from its territory.
In the past few days, many foreign officials have spoken to Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-abdollahian, urging restraint, but Iranian authorities have warned that all options are on the table.
‘A possible strike’
Amid escalating tensions with Israel, Iran has ‘readied more than a hundred cruise missiles for a possible strike’, according to a report on Friday.
Citing a US defence official, ABC News reported that the US has deployed additional military assets to the region, including ships and aircraft.
Two US Navy destroyers currently stationed in the eastern Mediterranean have been identified as part of the deployment, said the report. The destroyers are equipped with the advanced Aegis combat system, capable of defending troops in the region from ballistic missile threats.
Furthermore, US defence officials have disclosed that Iran has reportedly prepared more than a hundred cruise missiles for potential use in a strike against Israel.