Yemen Houthis Capture “Israeli” Cargo Ship
Update – Houthis Have Posted a Video Showing Capture of Cargo Ship
The Yemen Houthi terrorist group has shared a video showing the capture of the cargo ship earlier today, the video can be seen below:
The Saudi channel Al-Hadath and Al-Arabiya network are reporting from sources that the Houthis in Yemen have captured an “Israeli cargo ship” named Galaxy Leader sailing in the Gulf. It is claimed that there are 22 crew members on board. Houthi spokesperson is expected to make an announcement in coming hours. It should be noted that there are presumably no Israelis on the ship. The ship is reportedly owned by the Israeli Rami Ungar – the crew members on board are presumably from Japan.
The ship is a car carrier and the goal of the Houthis is to damage Israeli trade.
IDF Spokesperson Remarks
“The incident of the hijacking of the cargo ship by the Houthis near Yemen in the southern Red Sea is a very serious event at the global level. It concerns a ship that left Turkey on its way to India with an international civilian crew, without Israelis. It is not an Israeli ship.”
Yemen Houthis
The Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah (Supporters of God), is a predominantly Shia Islamist political and armed movement that emerged from Sa’dah in northern Yemen in the early 1990s. The group is led by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, and it adheres to a branch of Shia Islam known as Zaidism. The Houthis have been involved in repeated conflicts with the Yemeni government since 2004, and their influence and control expanded significantly during the Yemeni Civil War that began in 2015.
The conflict in Yemen has drawn in regional powers, notably Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Houthis are widely seen as being backed by Iran, though the extent of this support is a matter of debate. Saudi Arabia leads a coalition of countries supporting the Yemeni government against the Houthi forces, which has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Video of Houthis Firing on Israel on the 9th of November
Attacks on Israel Since October 7th
Since October 7th, there have been a series of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi terrorists against Israel. These attacks began in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict which started on October 7. The Houthis, who control northern Yemen and are backed by Iran, had previously expressed hostility towards Israel but had not taken direct action until this point.
- Number and Type of Attacks: The Houthi forces have launched at least six drone and missile attacks targeting southern Israel since the beginning of the conflict with Hamas. These attacks have included several ballistic missile and drone strikes.
- Frequency and Impact: There have been at least three rounds of these attacks by the Houthis. One of the notable incidents was a drone attack on October 28, which also resulted in blasts in Egypt.
- Interception of Attacks: The United States, Saudi Arabia and the Israeli military have reportedly intercepted projectiles launched by the Houthis in the Red Sea. This indicates a level of preparedness and response from both countries to these emerging threats.
These attacks mark a significant escalation in the Houthi’s involvement in regional conflicts, reflecting the multifaceted nature of the Middle Eastern war. The Houthis’ actions are part of a broader regional conflict that includes various state and non-state actors, with alliances and hostilities that span across national borders.
