Gaza War Updates: Iran-Backed Houthis Seize British-Owned, Japanese-Operated Cargo Ship Connected To Israeli Businessman
“On board the ship are 25 crew members of different nationalities, including Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Filipinos, and Mexicans.”
Iran-backed Houthi terrorists, who recently carried out several failed missile and drone strikes aimed at Israel, hijacked a British ship partially owned by an Israeli businessman.
The ship, carrying cargo from Turkey to India, is reportedly connected to Israeli shipping mogul Abraham Ungar. “Israeli officials insisted the ship was British-owned and Japanese-operated. However, ownership details in public shipping databases associated the ship’s owners with Ray Car Carriers, which was founded by Abraham “Rami” Ungar, who is known as one of the richest men in Israel,” the Associated Press reported.
The cargo ship passing though the Red Sea was reportedly seized in a helicopter raid by Houthis, a Yemen-based Islamic terror group that Biden White House removed from the list of designated terrorist groups in 2021 — revering a Trump-era decision. “Militants believed to be Iranian-backed Houthi rebels used a helicopter raid to seize a Japanese cargo ship in the southern Red Sea, said three U.S. officials,” the NBC News reported Sunday.
The Jerusalem Post reported:
A cargo ship partially owned by an Israeli businessman was hijacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on Sunday, Israel confirmed on Sunday, accusing Iran of directing the maritime piracy.
The cargo ship, Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader, was leased from a British company partly owned by Israeli Rami Unger to a Japanese company.
The ship left a port in Turkey headed for India and sailed under the flag of the Bahamas. The Foreign Ministry said it was aware of the incident.
On board the ship are 25 crew members of different nationalities, including Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Filipinos, and Mexicans. No Israelis were onboard, the ministry said.
Statement by Prime Minister's Office:
Israel strongly condemns the Iranian attack against an international vessel.
The ship, which is owned by a British company and is operated by a Japanese firm, was hijacked with Iran guidance by the Yemenite Houthi militia.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) November 19, 2023
With Hamas taking a beating in Gaza, its Iranian paymasters cheered the Islamic terror group for fighting the Israeli military advance. “Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday Israel has suffered a “defeat” in its war against Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas, and that it was “a fact”,” the French news agency AFP reported Sunday.
Iran-backed terrorist groups Hezbollah and Houthi have stepped up attacks on Israel amid Tehran’s threats to widen the conflict against the Jewish State in wake of Hamas’s October 7 massacre.
IDF Hunts for Hamas Terror Leaders Sinwar and Deif as They Flee to South Gaza
Israeli military is expanding its ground operations amid media reports that terrorist group Hamas’s Gaza-based leadership duo has fled to the south. Hamas’s Gaza chief, Yehya Sinwar, and Hamas’s Al Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif, have managed to escape to the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis after IDF troops captured large part of northern Gaza.
The IDF is determined to locate these two terrorists who are among the main culprits behind the October 7 massacre of more than 1200 Israelis, the news website Ynet reported Saturday night:
IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in his daily statement, regarding the report stating that Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar and the head of the military wing, Mohammed Deif, fled to Khan Yunis, that IDF is hunting them around the clock. “Military Intelligence, the Air Force, Southern Command – around the clock, we are searching for them,” he said. “And we are also reaching them, wherever they are.” He emphasized, ‘Anywhere in the Gaza Strip, we will target anyone involved in attacks, and certainly the leaders of Hamas.”
#Breaking: Israeli estimate: Hamas terror chiefs Sinwar & Deif fled Gaza City, hiding in Khan Younis area in southern Gaza; Defense Minister Gallant says IDF forces will operate there soon (via @kann_news & @WallaNews). This manhunt is one of Israel's top priorities. pic.twitter.com/PliO1jn1Nu
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) November 18, 2023
As the ground offensive entered its fourth week, the IDF is gearing up to flush out Hamas from the entire terror-infested enclave, Israeli media reports say.
IDF expands military operation in #Gaza as pressure mounts
'If you want to eradicate Hamas you cannot just conquer the northern part of the Gaza strip…you have to conquer everything and cleanse everything. That means the southern part as well' Our @jregevi24news brings us the… pic.twitter.com/FfxEndm6FZ
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) November 19, 2023
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday confirmed that the military was preparing to take on Hamas’s terror strongholds in the south, The Times of Israel reported:
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says in a primetime press conference that the IDF is continuing to hit Hamas hard in the Strip and will also operate “soon” in the south of Gaza.
“We are in the second stage of the ground invasion, also operating in the east of the Strip,” he says. “Hamas has been hit hard, it’s losing tunnels, bunkers, posts,” and many of its senior commanders have been killed, Gallant adds.
“We are reaching all of the sites sensitive to Hamas and hitting them,” he says.
“With every passing day, there are fewer places for the Hamas terrorists to move around,” he says.
Those hiding out in the south of the Strip, where the IDF has yet to send in ground troops, “will feel this soon,” says Gallant.
A British doctor who used to work in Gaza's Shifa hospital recounts: "I was told there was a part of the hospital I was not to go near and if I did, I'd be in danger of being shot."
Is this also totally normal in the hospitals you frequent @BowenBBC? pic.twitter.com/JGwIwEiR3K
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) November 19, 2023
IDF death toll rises to 65
Hamas and Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists hiding in underground tunnel and civilian neighborhoods continue to fire rockets and mortars at advancing Israeli soldiers, taking the Israeli death toll to 65 since the IDF launched the operation ‘Swards of Iron’ in response to the mass-slaughter of civilians by terrorist intruders 43 days ago.
“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the names of two more soldiers killed in combat in the northern Gaza Strip. Captain (res.) Roey Biber and Sergeant Binyamin Meir Airly, bringing the total number of Israeli soldiers killed to 65 since the ground operation began,” the Israeli TV channel i24NEWS reported Sunday.
Our hearts are broken again and again for the families who lost their beloved sons in Gaza as they defended Israel its citizens and the Jewish people all over the world.
As the sun rises in Israel we learn of the fallen soldiers
Binyamin Meir Airly, 21 from Beit Shemesh, and… pic.twitter.com/8At9kd0A6Z
— Avraham Berkowitz (@GlobalRabbi) November 19, 2023
IDF raids Hamas leaders’ mansions in Gaza city
The IDF on Sunday brought war to Hamas as Israeli troops raided the mansions of terrorist leaders in central Gaza city’s luxurious neighborhood of Rimal.
“Unprecedented Israeli bombardment lays waste to upscale Rimal,” the Associated Press noted, as Israeli troops took over the area in house-to-house fighting. Most of the Hamas leaders have fled Gaza city or left for friendly Arab countries, but their homes continue to be used as command and control centers for terrorists conducting attacks against Israeli soldiers.
New footage. Rimal *was* an exclusive neighborhood in Gaza where Hamas leaders lived in luxury.
The IDF is actively seeking Hamas terrorists and destroying the tunnel network. Rimal now looks a mess.
Lesson. Don't slaughter Jews and think you can get away with it. pic.twitter.com/LRSDIs8QI3
— David Collier (@mishtal) November 19, 2023
The IDF released the details of the anti-terror raid on Saturday:
IDF soldiers of the Paratroopers Brigade, together with the Armored Corps, Engineering Corps and the Israeli Air Force, operated in the Sheikh Ijlin and Rimal areas in order to identify and destroy Hamas infrastructure and assets. During the operations, the soldiers located approximately 35 tunnel shafts as well as a large number of weapons and eliminated terrorists.
Additionally, the soldiers operated in a Hamas military base belonging to the terrorist organization’s military intelligence unit. During the operation, IDF soldiers located ammunition depots and seven rocket launchers.
Embedded in the Rimal area are the residences of senior Hamas officials, who took control of the buildings in the area to conduct and direct terrorist activities. Military posts and Hamas infrastructure are also located in the area.
https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1726257542643449865
DONATE
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.
Comments
“British-Owned, Japanese-Operated Cargo Ship Connected To Israeli Businessman”
Has no one ever translated Dale Carnegie into Arabic?
In the end they are pirates and should be dealt with accordingly. I assume that the ship has one or more transponders.
Made me laugh. I was about to make the same point, but not nearly so well said.
Stumbling mumbling biden, international symbol of weakness.
Iran backed terrorists Hamas and Houthis are smiling.
How long will they be smiling, I hope that when Israel is done with Gaza that they will give both the West Bank and Iran what they have coming. Where Iran is concerned, we should be boing our part to crush Iran, nukes should be on the table for Iran.
Shouldn’t you be off to basic training or OCS by now, given your never-ending over the top strategies you are always blowing out of your derriere here?
Crawl under your rock. As more information has surfaced, Israel is in fact using tactics I advocated for, such as thermobaric bombs (I wish they were bigger ones) and burning them in their tunnels. Jews are so much smarter than Camel Jockeys’.
What is a shame here is that Arabs could have lived in piece and prospered with Israel, they could have been productive citizens, seen their children grow and prosper. Instead they and their children became homicidal useless welfare recipients.
A seized ship= more hostages.
Piracy of a civilian container ship is a VERY bad idea if you want world opinion on your side. That’s universally frowned upon by anyone who depends on shipping for their economies and the needs of their citizens.
I predict the Houthis are going to seriously regret this one and not just the ones who will turned into fish food by special ops lads very soon..
I do hope so
Britain can’t, Japan can’t… FJB can’t and won’t.
– CTF-150, the multinational counter piracy Task Force is still active and in the area.
– British SAS and SBS are quite capable of resolving this.
– India’s MARCOS have taken down vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea.
– There are US SEAL and USMC Spec Ops assets in the vicinity.
It will get done.
Japan’s JMSDF has a Special Boarding Unit (SBU) whose specialty is exactly what is called for. I friend of mine was a SEAL and said they regularly trained with them and that they are quite good.
There werre two US Navy warships in the area. Guess there isn’t much deterrence from the US Navy presence.
were
The US Navy has a carrier in that region I think
Lomg range missiles, piracy requiring intel…. almost as if there was a major power or powers directing them…. of course… they can maintain upgrades from the billions FJB has send their (his?) masters.
Israel needs to redeploy a few armored bulldozers to Yemen.
With Gaza’s population density, our largest thermobaric bomb would rake out 1 mile diameter. I would not be surprised if we have even larger ones, beyond that, comes nukes.
I think that Iran is itching for a lesson or two. This pirated ship should be addressed by taking out their largest dam.
Yeah, we call them terrorists or pirates in the real world, not “militants”.
But we aren’t marxist propagandists.
This is a silly question I suppose but where did terrorists get a helicopter?
Helicopters require infrastructure because of their maintenance needs. Even if it were stolen, a helicopter requires a trained pilot, and since this one was large enough to carry a “number” of terrorists it must be fairly large; a military helicopter.
Finally, I would assume that there is radar surveillance of this area given current circumstances…. if there were, how hard would it be to track a large military helicopter back to its base?
So…??? Why hasn’t this base been turned into Purina puppy chow yet.?
Those terrorists are also an army fighting a civil war in Yemen. Control of various military facilities has gone back and forth. And a great many of the rebels were fully trained soldiers, IIRC. This is more “army of half of Yemen” than “bunch of idiots putting together suicide vests in the basement.”
“This is a silly question I suppose but where did terrorists get a helicopter?”
Come on down to Afghan Ali’s Aircraft Emporium And US Military Surplus!
Get a free autographed photo of The Big Guy with every purchase!
You are on a roll.
I don’t understand why ships operating in the region don’t have a Security Force onboard. Much cheaper than this.
Quite simply, all the progressive nations won’t let you have that security on board in port. They are all hoplophobes who refuse to let anyone protect themselves. After all, there’s International Law about piracy! That should protect you!
IOW, all the nations whose ports they visit are idiots. (Including ours.)
That is what I have read, shipowners/operators can’t keep a well-armed private security force on board all the time because of this issue with making port. I believe they are allowed to have water canons and hi frequency noise makers, but RPGs or 12.7mm MG outranges both.
Easy, peezy. Take the ship out of port and put the security team on a cutter out to them. When they get near the destination take them off the same way. Heck, cruise ships run tourists to shore like this.
Besides, if the container ships said “we are doing this or going elsewhere” it would not be long before that law changed.
Thanks for hoplophobes, don’t see that much anymore since Col Cooper died
Yeah, this is called piracy. Unless you want to call it an act of war – against Britain and Japan. Even with all of its problems, Britain is still a match for Houthi “rebels.” And you don’t even want to bring Japan into this.
this was not a us merchantman–is the responsibility of britain / japan, as owners/operators, to protect their property
piracy is an ancient crime on the high seas–the remedy is ancient (and summary) as well–the brits / japanese have the resources to handle this–hang all the perps from the yardarm
I concur that Britain and Japan should handle this – with prejudice.
However, piracy is something ALL civilized nations are supposed to combat wherever they find it. In practice, you leave pirates that prey on your enemy alone. But “high seas” demands everyone fight it.
Personally, I think Japan should treat it as an act of war. “Hey, could we get early delivery of some of those Tomahawks we ordered?”
Lets hope they record that punishment.
Well, is this going to be treated as an act of piracy or an act of war?
Well, is this going to be treated as an act of piracy or an act of war?
________________________________________
would keep it simple–no need to argue semantics–indisputable act of piracy–summary response clearly justified
It is easy to trigger Thad Jarvis, I am wondering if he is from CAIR