Houthis release video showing Red Sea ship hijacking

Bangkok Post Group

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis released video footage on Monday showing armed men dropping from a helicopter and seizing a cargo ship in the southern Red Sea. - REUTERS

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00:00 Houthi rebels from Yemen were seen storming a cargo ship in the Red Sea in a video released

00:07 by the Iran-backed group on Monday.

00:10 Its fighters appeared to land by helicopter onto the top deck.

00:14 They brandished weapons at the ship's crew and ordered them to lie down.

00:19 The seized ship, the Galaxy Leader, is now in Yemen's Hodeida port area, according to

00:24 its owner Galaxy Maritime, which is registered in the Isle of Man.

00:28 The Houthi movement claims the Galaxy Leader has links to Israel.

00:32 However, Israel has denied this and says the seized ship was British-owned and Japanese-operated.

00:39 The owner confirmed the ship was illegally boarded on Sunday.

00:44 Its crew of 25 is made up of nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines and other

00:49 countries.

00:50 All communications have since been cut with the vessel.

00:53 The Houthis are a group aligned with Iran that have emerged as a major military force

00:58 in the Arabian Peninsula.

01:00 Last week, the leader said they would target Israeli ships in the Red Sea and said attacks

01:05 would continue until "Israeli aggression" -- referring to the war against Hamas in the

01:10 Gaza Strip -- is stopped.

01:13 A representative from Hamas thanked the Houthis for seizing the ship.

01:17 He called it a "welcome step" in support of the Palestinian people.

01:22 The United States on Monday denounced the seizure it said was a breach of international

01:26 law and demanded the Houthis immediately release the vessel and its crew.

01:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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