Iranian forces, specifically the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), seized a container ship near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in a region already on edge due to recent conflicts. The operation was carried out in response to a deadly Israeli attack on an Iranian consulate in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of seven IRGC members, including two generals.
State media reported that the IRGC used a helicopter to board the Portugal-flagged MSC Aries, which had sailed from the UAE and was en route to India. The ship, managed by London-based Zodiac Maritime, is linked to Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group. Soldiers were filmed rappelling onto the vessel from a Soviet-designed Mil Mi-17 helicopter.
Following the seizure, the ship was directed towards Iranian territorial waters. The MSC, an Italian-Swiss shipping company responsible for the vessel, confirmed that there were 25 crew members on board and emphasized their commitment to the crew’s wellbeing and the vessel’s safe return.
This incident comes amid other regional hostilities, including an attack on another Israeli-linked ship in the Indian Ocean, attributed to Iran by the United States. The situation has drawn international attention, with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemning the seizure as a “pirate operation” and urging global powers to take action against Iran.
The escalation follows the US’s increase in military presence in the Middle East, anticipating potential Iranian retaliations for the Israeli consulate attack. This military strategy includes the repositioning of destroyers to enhance regional security and deterrence.