Iran’s IRGC seizes ‘Israeli-linked’ ship close to Strait of Hormuz | Israel Battle on Gaza Information

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IRGC forces carried out an operation through helicopter to take management of the business vessel, state media stories.

Tehran, Iran – Iranian armed forces have seized a container ship close to the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions throughout the area after a lethal Israeli assault on Iran’s consulate in Syria.

The ship was commandeered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the elite pressure that misplaced seven members, together with two generals, within the Syria strike, Iranian state media reported on Saturday.

“The ship has now been guided in the direction of the territorial waters of our nation,” state-run IRNA reported.

The vessel was recognized because the Portugal-flagged MSC Aries, which reportedly departed from a port within the United Arab Emirates en path to India. It’s related to the London-based Zodiac Maritime, part of the Zodiac Group run by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer and his household.

Zodiac Maritime stated in an announcement that MSC is accountable for all vessel actions.

“Title to the vessel is held by ​Gortal Transport Inc as financier and she or he has been leased to MSC on a long-term foundation. Gortal Transport Inc is affiliated with Zodiac Maritime,” it stated.

Footage from the deck of the vessel obtained by The Related Press information company on Saturday confirmed troopers rappelling down from a helicopter.

‌The helicopter seemed to be a Soviet-designed Mil Mi-17, which is operated by the naval forces of the IRGC.

The UK Maritime Commerce Operations (UKMTO) had stated a vessel was seized by “regional authorities” 50 nautical miles (92km) northeast of the UAE’s Fujairah in a waterway important to world commerce.

One other Israeli-linked container ship was attacked and broken by a drone within the Indian Ocean in late November, which the US blamed on Iran.

Israeli International Minister Israel Katz stated in a publish on X that the transfer by Iran was “a pirate operation in violation of worldwide regulation”.

“I name on the European Union and the free world to instantly declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist group and to sanction Iran now.”

Hovering regional tensions

The US navy is transferring extra navy belongings to the Center East because it anticipates an Iranian response to the Israeli assault on the consulate in Syria.

A US defence official instructed Al Jazeera that the transfer is especially geared toward higher defending US troops within the area, but in addition to ramp up regional deterrence.

US media confirmed the transfer however the Pentagon has not formally stated which belongings it’s transferring to the area.

The Wall Road Journal quoted unnamed US officers as saying on Friday that it contains repositioning two destroyers, with one of many warships already within the area and one other redirected there.

US President Joe Biden stated he anticipated an Iranian retaliation to come back “ahead of later” and that Washington will proceed to defend Israel.

“Don’t,” he stated when requested by reporters if he had a message for Iran.

For the reason that begin of the warfare on Gaza after the Hamas-led October 7 assaults in Israel, the US has despatched hundreds of bombs and ammunition to its ally Israel regardless of rising worldwide criticism, together with transferring warships and troops to the area.

John Kirby, the White Home’s nationwide safety spokesman, stated on Friday that Iran’s threats to retaliate in opposition to Israel stay “actual” and viable”.

Normal Erik Kurilla, the pinnacle of US Central Command within the area, arrived in Israel on Friday to debate a possible Iranian assault and met with high officers, together with Israeli navy chief of workers Herzi Halevi.

Israeli navy spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that “Iran funds, trains, and arms terror proxies throughout the Center East and past”, including that the Islamic republic doesn’t simply threaten the folks of Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria”, however “fuels the warfare in Ukraine and past”.

He stated that Israel was on “excessive alert” and was “ready to reply” to what he referred to as “any Iranian aggression”.