Iranian paramilitaries have hijacked a container ship near the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions in Israel, POLITICO reported.
Iranian media reported that the seizure of the ship was linked to Israel and followed a strike on a consulate building on embassy in Syria that killed seven Iranian military advisers, including Mohammad Reza Zahedi.
The video shows commandos descending from a helicopter onto the MSC Aries, a Portuguese-flagged ship with 25 crew members on board. In a statement Saturday, the MSC confirmed that Iranian authorities had boarded the ship and that it “has since been diverted from itinerary towards Iran.”
The seizure by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps came at the peak of tensions in the Middle East as Iran was expected to retaliate against Israel this weekend after Israel killed Iranian paramilitary leaders in Syria. Earlier today, Israel reported that Hezbollah launched a massive wave of attacks on northern Israel, firing between 40 and 50 rockets that were almost entirely intercepted by Israeli air defences.
Israel Defence Forces spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari released a one-minute video response to Iran’s seizure of the ship: “Iran will bear the consequences for choosing to escalate the situation any further.” He further added: “We have increased our readiness to protect Israel from further Iranian aggression. We are also prepared to respond.”
For days, senior Biden administration officials worked with foreign counterparts to persuade Iran to back down from a massive attack. The growing consensus was that Iran had hatched plans to harm Israel but not to draw other countries, including the United States, into a wider regional war.
Speaking during Friday’s White House event, US President Joe Biden said he expected Iran to retaliate “sooner rather than later”: “We are devoted to the defence of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel. And Iran will not succeed.”
On Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Israel “must be punished and will be punished” for the attack on 1 April. However, it is still unclear exactly when and where the retaliatory strike will take place.
Amid the potential expansion of the conflict, a US Defence Department spokesman said the US was moving additional assets into the region to support regional deterrence efforts and enhance the protection of US forces.
