Iranian special forces conducted a helicopter raid and seized the MSC Aries, a container ship sailing under the Portuguese flag, near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage to the Persian Gulf. The operation, reported by Iran’s state-run media IRNA, involved forces from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) rappelling onto the ship, which was then redirected towards Iranian territorial waters.
Footage of the raid broadcast by Press TV showed troops descending onto the vessel, though these images could not be independently verified by external sources. According to the vessel’s operator, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the ship was boarded 50 nautical miles northeast of Fujairah, an area that marks the entrance to the Persian Gulf. MSC confirmed the presence of 25 crew members onboard and is currently coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure their safety.
⚡️BREAKING
Iran has released a video of the seizure of the MSC Aries, owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer.
Normally, Iran only seizes oil tankers and not container ships, but it seems that the Strait of Hormuz is being closed to ships linked to Israel pic.twitter.com/fSZoObEbEL
— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) April 13, 2024
Iranian authorities have not provided a specific reason for the seizure of this ship, which is linked to Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer, drawing intense international scrutiny. The act has been widely condemned as a violation of international law, with calls for the immediate release of the vessel and its crew.
The international community, including the United States and the European Union, is closely monitoring the situation, as any further escalation could affect global shipping lanes and increase geopolitical tensions in the region.
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