Israel has accused Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen of hijacking a ship near the Red Sea connected with an Israeli billionaire.
Eyal Ofer, one of the world’s wealthiest people, owns the Livadia, a 190-metre tanker, which is believed to have been seized in the Red Sea last week. According to Israeli media reports, the vessel was travelling from Saudi Arabia to the Jordanian port of Aqaba when it was seized.
The Israeli navy has dispatched two ships to the area in an attempt to locate the tanker, however they have yet to make contact with the vessel.
The incident has increased tensions in the region, with reports suggesting the Iranian backed Houthi’s could be behind the ship’s disappearance. The Houthi’s have a long history of acts of piracy in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have been escalating in the region, particularly since the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. The suspected hijacking of the Livadia is the latest incident that has heightened concern among regional players, particularly Israel.
The hijacking has highlighted the volatile security situation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This is not the first time the Houthi’s have been accused of hijacking vessels in the waters, and the international community will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how this situation plays out.
The incident reinforces the need for the international community to work together to ensure a stable and secure environment in the Red Sea. Until then, Yemen and the greater region remain in a state of heightened insecurity.