Japan condemns Yemen’s Houthi rebels hijack of cargo ship in Red Sea

Japan has condemned the hijacking of a Japanese-operated, British-owned cargo ship within the Pink Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The Yemeni militia claimed the vessel was Israeli, and a spokesman stated the seizure was solely the start of a “battle at sea”.

Israel stated the ship was not Israeli and a Japanese authorities spokesperson stated it was operated by Nippon Yusen.

Japan’s chief cupboard secretary stated it was working in the direction of the ship’s launch.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the Houthi’s backer, Iran, for the hijacking.

Mr Netanyahu stated neither the vessel nor the crew had been Israeli and known as it an “Iranian assault on a world ship”. Iran has denied involvement.

Japanese delivery firm Nippon Yusen – also referred to as NYK Line – stated the ship, named Galaxy Chief, was carrying 25 crew members when it was seized close to Hodeida, Yemen on its method to India.

These on board are believed to incorporate Bulgarian, Mexican, Filipino and Ukrainian nationals.

Galaxy Chief is owned by Galaxy Maritime Ltd, which is registered within the Isle of Man. It’s owned by Ray Automobile Carriers, which is co-owned by Israeli businessman Abraham Ungar, in response to paperwork from the Isle of Man Authorities’s Corporations registry.

In a press release quoted by Reuters information company, Galaxy Maritime Ltd stated the ship was “illegally boarded by army personnel through a helicopter” on Sunday, and was now being held on the port of Hodeidah in Yemen.

Unverified video footage launched by the Houthis on Monday and aired on the group’s TV channel, Al Masirah, confirmed armed males descending from a helicopter onto the ship.

Mr Ungar advised The Related Press information company he was conscious of the incident however couldn’t touch upon it.

“The federal government of Japan completely condemns such an act,” stated Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan’s chief cupboard secretary stated on Monday, including there have been no Japanese nationals among the many crew.

He stated ministries and businesses had been working with the related nations for the early launch of the vessel and its crew.

“We’re additionally urging associated nations reminiscent of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Iran to strongly urge the Houthis to launch the ships and sailors as quickly as potential.”

Matthew Miller, spokesman for the US state division, known as the Houthi’s seizure of the ship “a flagrant violation of worldwide regulation” and demanded the “rapid launch of the ship and its crew”.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, a spokesman for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, stated on X, previously Twitter, the group’s seizure of the vessel was solely “the beginning” of its fighters waging “battle at sea”.

Houthi’s army spokesman, Yahya al-Sarea, claimed the ship was Israeli and had been taken to a port in Yemen.

The group had earlier threatened to focus on any Israeli ship inside their attain in response to Israel’s retaliatory army motion within the Gaza Strip following the 7 October assault by Hamas militants.

Greater than 1,200 individuals had been killed and greater than 240 taken hostage through the shock Hamas assault on the south of the nation, in response to the Israeli authorities.

In retaliation, it launched a large army operation to try to get rid of Hamas – involving air and artillery strikes in addition to floor troops – with the goal of eliminating Hamas.

Based on the Hamas-run well being ministry, the loss of life toll in Gaza since then has reached 12,300. Greater than 2,000 extra are feared to be buried beneath rubble.

The Houthis have fired a number of missiles and drones in the direction of Israel simply after Israel launched its retaliatory operation.

The US stated on the time that each one the missiles and drones had been intercepted by its warship within the Pink Sea.

The Israel Protection Forces (IDF) described the assault on the ship as a “very grave incident of worldwide consequence”.

The IDF stated the vessel was on its manner from Turkey to India when it was seized within the southern Pink Sea close to Yemen.

Iranian Overseas Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has not too long ago stated that what he known as resistance teams allied to Tehran had been “cleverly adjusting stress” on Israel and its supporters.

Earlier this month, the Houthis shot down a US army drone off Yemen’s coast, American officers stated.

The Houthis have been locked in a prolonged civil war with Yemen’s official authorities – backed by Saudi Arabia – since 2014.

Extra reporting by Shruti Menon