Overview

• Houthi rebels in Yemen hijacked the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship registered under a British company partially owned by an Israeli businessman, via a helicopter raid in the Red Sea.
• The ship, flying under a Bahamian flag, was leased out to Japanese company Nippon Yusen and was traveling from Turkey to India at the time of the hijacking.
• The crew of 25, including citizens of Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico, and Romania, were held at gunpoint; their current condition is unknown.
• Houthi rebels claimed they targeted the ship due to its ties to Israel, warning that any Israeli-linked vessels will be considered 'legitimate targets' until the war in Gaza ends.
• Israeli officials, the U.S. State Department, and the Japanese government have condemned the incident, with the latter reportedly initiating negotiation efforts with the Houthi rebels for the crew's release.