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The ship named MSC Aries (Aries or Ares was the ancient Greek god of war or, more properly, the spirit of battle. He represented the distasteful aspects of brutal warfare and slaughter) was seized by the marine unit of the IRGC in a special heliborne operation, state-run news agency IRNA reported on Saturday, confirming earlier reports.
The report said the Portuguese-flagged ship has been directed towards the territorial waters of Iran.
Earlier, Israel’s Channel 14 and Times of Israel reported that the seized vessel belongs to Zodiac Maritime shipping company owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), in a statement, said a ship has been seized in the area, noting that vessels are “advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.”
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region and speculation about Iran’s imminent military strike against Iran in response to an attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria earlier this month.
At least 13 people were killed in the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, including seven Iranian military advisors, which Iranian authorities blamed on Israel.
Among those killed included Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria and Lebanon, and his deputy Gen. Hadi Haj Rahemi.
After the attack, top Iranian and military leaders warned of a “decisive response”, with some speculating on Friday that the retaliatory strike would come in less than 48 hours.
Addressing a gathering on Eid al-Fitr in Tehran on Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei renewed the threat of retaliation, saying Israel “will be punished” for the attack.
7 replies on “Strait of Hormuz: Iranian Forces Seize Israeli Linked Ship”
…measured, temperate. effective response by Iran. Let’s see if the west likes sanctions coming with shut down of oil through the Straits of Hormuz. We in North America will face oil prices like Europe has been suffering through. Western governments will fall.
Will you though. North America has ways to exploit oil in their own territories. And is able to produce enough to be a net exporter like we have seen at the top of the shale oil period.
The current owners of the shale oil are deliberately keeping the production low at the moment for high oil prices. If it were to go hurt other important businesses in America I am quite sure they will be pressured to get the volume up.
Europe though has no such option. I don’t see it having the flexibility to increase local oil extraction. Synthetic fuel would be one option, but because of the green hypnosis I doubt they will apply methods like that.
Europe is in direr straights than North America.
Hi Kaz
I think we can exploit oil in our own territories, but… Canada has trade agreements with the US that make it difficult to access our own oil.
And because of the green delusion- things haven’t been as productive here for some time- that can change
In the short term.. there will be financial pain here and in the US.
I agree Europe is in dire straights and this could get a whole lot worse
Scary, scary times Mark.
there are reports of drone strikes being made against Israel- Early reports have Iran striking Israel and Israel striking Lebanon
https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/13/04/2024/iran-launches-drones-at-israel
Iranian press TV says Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards have launched extensive drone strikes against targets in Israel.
The English-language media outlet cited Iranian sources.
The White House also confirmed that Iran has begun airborne attack against Israel, with Washington saying that the attack is likely to unfold over a number of hours.
https://qz.com/u-s-says-it-will-provide-unspecified-support-for-israe-1851408262
The White House says it will provide unspecified support for Israel’s defense against an ongoing airborne attack from Iran
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a Saturday statement that “Iran has begun an airborne attack against Israel.” She added: “The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran.”
Israeli aviation authorities say they are closing the country’s airspace to all flights as it braces for an Iranian drone attack.
The country’s airport authority said the closure would go into effect at 12:30 a.m. local time (5:30 p.m. EDT).
It said flights would be affected and advised travelers to check with their airlines for changes.
Iranian state television announced that Tehran had launched an attack toward Israel. Iraq’s state news agency quoted Transportation Minister Raqqa Saadawi as saying the country’s airspace was closed.
Before the attack was announced, a FlyDubai flight from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv, Israel, turned around as it was over Saudi Arabia, flight-tracking data showed.
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