Iranian commandos raided a container ship linked to Israel while it was sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important maritime passages in the world.
Special forces from the naval branch of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boarded the MSC Aries about 50 miles off the coast of the United Arab Emirates early Saturday.
Footage of the mission taken by a crew member shows at least three commandos rappelling down a rope from a helicopter to the vessel, a container ship sailing under the flag of Portugal and linked to Israeli shipping magnate Eyal Ofer.
The ship, 1,201 feet long and 168 feet wide, left the port of Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates and was due to arrive in the Indian city of Nhava Sheva before the attack, the latest escalation in tensions between Israel that many fear could lead to Tehran launching a military offensive against Israel.
Tracking data last placed the MSC Aries near the coast of Dubai just over a day ago. The ship appears to have disabled its tracking data at that time.
Footage of the mission taken by a crew member shows at least three commandos descending a rope from a helicopter to the ship.
MSC Aries (pictured) is transported to Iranian waters
Missile launched during military exercise in southern Iran
Iran attends the funeral procession of seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard killed in an attack in Syria, which Iran blamed on Israel
The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed the boarding, although it did not name Iran, instead saying the ship was “reported to have been seized by regional authorities.”
He later said “authorities” were investigating the incident, but did not provide further details.
Iran’s state news agency said Iranian commandos were involved in the boarding and said the ship was being transported to Iranian waters, although Iranian officials have not yet commented on the seizure.
This was also confirmed by the ship’s parent company, which said the ship “has since been diverted from its itinerary to Iran.”
The company added: “We are working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure their well-being and the safe return of the ship.”
The White House said the ship’s crew was made up of Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian and Estonian nationals, and an Indian government official added that 17 Indian nationals were aboard the Aries.
White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said: “We call on Iran to immediately release the ship and its international crew.”
At least three commandos were seen leaving the Guardia supermarket.
A photograph provided by the Iranian Supreme Leader’s office shows Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praying at the coffins of members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who were killed in Syria.
‘The capture of a civilian ship without provocation is a flagrant violation of international law and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
“He must be unequivocally condemned and we will work with our partners to hold Iran accountable for its actions.”
The Indian official told the FOOT: “We are in contact with the Iranian authorities through diplomatic channels, both in Tehran and Delhi, to ensure [the] safety, well-being and prompt release of Indian citizens.’
MSC leases the Aries to Gortal Shipping, a subsidiary of Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac said in a statement, adding that MSC is responsible for all activities on the vessel. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
In response to Iran’s attack on the container ship, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz took to X to say: ‘The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has seized a Portuguese civilian cargo ship, belonging to a EU member, which claims Israeli ownership.
‘The Ayatollah regime is a criminal regime that supports the crimes of Hamas and is now carrying out a pirate operation in violation of international law.
A before and after of the attack on the Iranian embassy
Rescue teams search through the rubble of a building attached to the Iranian embassy
“I call on the European Union and the free world to immediately declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization and sanction Iran now.”
Meanwhile, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘Iran’s seizure of the MSC Aries freighter is unacceptable and a flagrant breach of international law.
‘We call for the unconditional release of the ship and its crew without delay. We are working with partners to avoid escalation in the Middle East. “Iran must immediately cease its destabilizing behavior.”
On Tuesday, Revolutionary Guard naval chief Alireza Tangsiri said he could close the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, if he deemed it necessary.
He said Iran viewed Israel’s presence in the United Arab Emirates, with which Israel established diplomatic relations in 2020 as part of the US-brokered ‘Abraham Accords’, as a threat.
Analyst Hasan Alhasan of the International Institute for Strategic Studies said that if the seizure of the MSC Aries was retaliation for Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, it showed a desire to save face without a broader escalation.
Houthi supporters shout slogans during a demonstration marking Al-Quds Day, in Sana’a, Yemen
An Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the Shahed-136, is displayed in Azadi (Freedom) Square in western Tehran, Iran.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei leads the Eid al-Fitr prayer marking the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in Tehran.
“Iran may be trying to take advantage of fears that it could obstruct shipping through the strait, a passage of greater importance to global oil and gas supplies than the Red Sea,” he said.
“If Iran limited itself to seizing commercial vessels linked to Israel, it would minimize the risk of an all-out conflict but would damage its own credibility,” he added.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group has disrupted global trade with attacks on ships in the Red Sea for months, saying it is targeting vessels linked to Israel in retaliation for Israel’s campaign in Gaza.
The United States and Britain have previously carried out attacks against Houthi targets in response to attacks on shipping.
The Joint Maritime Information Center, run by a Western-led naval coalition, said ships seeking to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes, should exercise caution and not dawdle.
Iran has previously vowed revenge on Israel after its military carried out a missile attack on its embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus, killing 12 people, including two senior generals.
Israel has not yet commented publicly on the attack, but its allies have warned Iran that support for Israel is “ironclad.”
US President Joe Biden said at a press conference on Thursday: “As I told Prime Minister Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. Let me say it again: battleship. “We will do everything we can to protect Israel’s security.”
Biden’s top diplomat, Anthony Blinken, confirmed his words, telling Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a phone call that the United States would back Israel if Iran decides to attack.
Last week, Maj. Gen. Rahim Safavi, who served as commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said none of Israel’s embassies were safe after the missile attack.
U.S. officials told the New York Times that Iran will likely strike multiple targets in Israel in the coming days.
Little is known about the possible attacks, including what form they might take, what types of targets will be involved, and when exactly they will take place.