In a recent alarming incident, Yemen’s Houthi terrorists captured a massive 620-foot cargo ship in the Red Sea, with shocking footage of the event released on Monday. The video features Houthi fighters jumping from a helicopter onto the ship and taking all 25 crew members hostage.

The owner of the ship, Galaxy Leader, confirmed that their vessel was “illegally boarded by military personnel via a helicopter”. After the hostile takeover, all communications with the vessel were lost. While the company refrained from commenting on the political or geopolitical situation, it expressed deep concern for the safety and security of its crew members.

The United States, reacting to the incident, labeled the Houthi’s actions as illegal. Matthew Miller, U.S. State Department spokesman, called the seizure a “flagrant violation of international law”. He demanded the immediate release of the ship and its crew, stating that the U.S. will discuss appropriate next steps with allies and U.N. partners.

NEW VIDEO: Yemen’s Houthi rebels hijack a cargo ship in the Red Sea over the weekend pic.twitter.com/pkkUJpbe5c

— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) November 20, 2023

The Jerusalem Post reported that the Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader cargo ship is leased to a Japanese company by a British company, partially owned by an Israeli businessman. Despite none of the crew members being Israeli citizens, Israel strongly condemned the Iranian attack against the international vessel.

“The ship, which is owned by a British company and operated by a Japanese firm, was hijacked with Iran guidance by the Yemenite Houthi militia,” said the Israeli government in a statement. The ship was en route from Turkey to India when it was seized by Houthi terrorists.

Israel also declared this incident an act of Iranian terrorism, emphasizing its potential international consequences regarding the security of global shipping lanes. Earlier in the day, the Houthis had issued a warning through one of their media outlets, threatening to target ships linked to Israel and urging countries to withdraw their citizens working on such vessels.

This unsettling incident marks yet another instance of escalating tensions in the Middle East. The Houthi terrorists’ bold actions not only threaten the safety of innocent crew members but also pose a significant risk to the security of international shipping routes. The global community must stand united against such blatant disregard for international law and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.