An unknown force seized Sunday an Israeli-linked ship in the Gulf of Aden as threats to the international marine routes keep magnifying in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Gulf of Aden. This is the third attack in a week on the Israeli ships in the region.
Today, a private intelligence firm, Ambrey, said an oil tanker linked to Israel has been seized off the coast of Aden. The tanker is called the Central Park, and it is owned by UK-based Zodiac Maritime, which is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer's Zodiac Group.
So far, no group or authority has claimed responsibility for seizing the oil tanker. Forces loyal to the UN-recognized government of Aden control Aden and the waters where the ship was seized.
Sheba Intelligence searched for the details of the ship on Vessel Finder, and it was found that the ship's Automatic Identification System showed it was in the Red Sea 5 days ago. Ships are supposed to keep their AIS active for safety reasons, but this system can be turned off if the crew fears being targeted.
It was sailing at a speed of 10.0 knots. The vessel is a Chemical/Oil Products Tanker built in 2015 (8 years old) and currently operating under the Liberian flag.
According to the Zodiac, the seized ship has 22 crew onboard. It said in a statement, "The Turkish-captained vessel has a multinational crew consisting of a crew of Russian, Vietnamese, Bulgarian, Indian, Georgian and Filipino nationals. The vessel is carrying a full cargo of phosphoric acid."
The safety of ships in Yemen's waters has shrunk over the past few days. The United KingdomMaritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said today it received reports of a possible attack on a ship southwest of Aden. It urged the vessels to remain cautious and report suspicious activities.
The UKMTO also revealed that two black and white craft carrying eight persons in military-style clothing approached another ship south of Aden. The vessel and the crew were safe, according to the UKMTO.
On Friday, A suspected Iranian drone hit Friday an Israeli-owned container ship in the Indian Ocean, an American defense official said. The drone, Shahed-136, detonated, causing damage to the vessel, but its crew members were unharmed, according to the official.
On November 19, the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group seized a cargo ship in the southern Red Sea as it was sailing from Turkey to India, marking the first attack on the Israeli ships since the start of the Gaza-Israel war on October 7. An Israeli businessman owns the vessel, and it is now anchored at the Houthi-controlled Al-Hudaydah port.
The Gaza-Israel war, which broke out on October 7, sparked tensions in the region, and the attacks on Israeli-linked ships have escalated in retaliation against the brutal Israeli massacres in Gaza.