In a dramatic and alarming incident that unfolded in the waters near the Strait of Hormuz, commandos believed to be from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard reportedly carried out a brazen attack on an Israeli-affiliated container ship. The vessel, which has been identified as the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, associated with London-based Zodiac Maritime, was seized by the special forces unit of the Guard’s navy in a daring operation.
The attack comes in the wake of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, with the Middle East already on edge following a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian consular building in Syria that resulted in the tragic loss of 12 lives, including a senior Guard general. The region has been further inflamed by the prolonged Israeli war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, a conflict that has been ongoing for six months.
The Iranian state-run IRNA has confirmed the involvement of a special forces unit of the Guard’s navy in the attack on the MSC Aries. The video footage of the incident, shared with The Associated Press by a Middle East defense official, shows commandos rappelling down onto the deck of the vessel, clearly indicating a meticulously planned and executed operation.
According to reports, the attack was carried out using a Soviet-era Mil Mi-17 helicopter, a type of aircraft previously utilized by both the Guard and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen in similar operations. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations has described the incident as the vessel being “seized by regional authorities” in the Gulf of Oman, just off the Emirati port city of Fujairah.
The Gulf of Oman, situated near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, is a vital maritime passage through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply is transported. Fujairah, located on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, serves as a crucial port for vessels to load new oil cargo, restock supplies, or conduct crew changes.
The waters surrounding Fujairah have witnessed a spate of incidents in recent years, including explosions and hijackings. The U.S. Navy has previously attributed such attacks to Iran, raising concerns about the safety and security of maritime activities in the region..
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