Shiv Telegram Media: Irans Revolutionary Guard captures container ship in Strait of Hormuz amidst tensions with Israel
2 min readTensions Rise in the Middle East as Iranian Commandos Seize Israeli-Affiliated Ship
In a dramatic escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, commandos from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized the MSC Aries, an Israeli-affiliated container ship near the crucial Strait of Hormuz. The seizure followed a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian consular building in Syria, which resulted in the death of 12 people.
The vessel, associated with London-based Zodiac Maritime, part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group, had a crew of 25 members from various nationalities on board. The White House has urged Iran to release the crew members and the vessel, while U.S. President Joe Biden returned to the White House to monitor the situation closely.
Video footage showed Iranian commandos rappelling onto the ship, believed to have been carried out with a Soviet-era Mil Mi-17 helicopter. Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz called on nations to list the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, while U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III assured U.S. support for Israel against attacks by Iran.
Iran provided no explanation for the attack on the vessel, stating only that it had links to Israel. The Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, is a crucial maritime route for globally traded oil, leading to concerns about the stability of the region. In response to the escalating tensions, Lufthansa Group and Dutch airline KLM announced changes to their flight operations.
The situation remains volatile, with calls for de-escalation and diplomatic solutions to prevent further conflict in the region. Stay tuned to Shiv Telegram Media for the latest updates on this developing story.