IRGC seizes Israeli-affiliated ship in Strait of Hormuz
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commandos carried out an attack on an Israeli-affiliated container ship near the Strait of Hormuz, seizing the vessel amid tension between the two countries, according to AP.
The attack was believed to be a response to an alleged Israeli strike on an Iranian consular building in Syria, which resulted in the death of a senior Guard general.
The ship in question, identified as the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, is associated with Zodiac Maritime, a company owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group.
A video shared by a Middle East defense official with AP showed commandos rappelling down onto the ship’s deck from a helicopter. The vessel was described as being “seized by regional authorities” in the Gulf of Oman and its location had been last tracked off Dubai.
Iranian state-run media reported that a Special Forces unit of the Guard’s navy was responsible for the attack.
This incident adds to a series of ship seizures and attacks attributed to Iran since 2019, amidst escalating tensions with the West over its nuclear program. The waters off Fujairah have witnessed previous incidents, including explosions and hijackings, with the U.S. Navy holding Iran responsible for mine attacks on tankers.