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Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they seized an Israeli ship in the southern Red Sea on Sunday and took it to a Yemeni port.
Israel's military denied the ship was Israeli.
The Houthis said on X, formerly Twitter, that their naval forces carried out “a military operation in the Red Sea” in which they seized an Israeli ship before taking it to the Yemeni coast.
The Houthi statement said “all ships belonging to the Israeli enemy or dealing with it that they will become a legitimate target” and warned “all countries whose nationals work in the Red Sea to refrain from any work or activity with Israeli ships or ships owned by Israelis”.
They added they would “continue to carry out military operations against the Israeli enemy until the aggression against the Gaza Strip stops”.
“It is not an Israeli ship,” the Israeli army said.
“The hijacking of a cargo ship by the Huthis near Yemen in the southern Red Sea is a very grave incident of global consequence,” it said on X.
“The ship departed Turkey on its way to India, staffed by civilians of various nationalities, not including Israelis.”
Israel described the incident as an “Iranian act of terrorism” with consequences for international maritime security.
The Houthis have been launching long-range missile and drone attacks at Israel in solidarity with Hamas militants the country has been battling in the Gaza Strip since October 7.
Last week, the Houthi leader said his forces would make further attacks on Israel and they could target Israeli ships in the Red Sea and the Bab Al Mandeb.
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Smoke ammunition fired by Israeli troops near the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel. AFP -
Israeli soldiers react during the funeral of Capt Liron Snir at the Mount Herzl military cemetery, Jerusalem. Reuters -
Egyptian paramedics transport a Palestinian child arriving from Gaza to an ambulance at the Rafah border crossing. AFP -
An Israeli tank appears through a soldier's night vision scope near the Gaza Strip in southern Israel. Getty Images -
A Palestinian mother holds her newborn in a maternity hospital in Rafah, after he was evacuated from Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. Reuters -
Israeli artillery train its guns towards the Gaza Strip in Southern Israel. Getty Images -
A family watch news updates on the Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners swap deal, near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters -
People demonstrate outside the Kyria defence complex as the political cabinet hold a meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel. Getty Images -
A wounded Palestinian child is carried into Nasser Hospital following an Israeli bombardment on Khan Younis refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip. AP -
An Israeli soldier takes position behind a wall in Gaza, as Israel's war against Hamas continues. Reuters -
Palestinians mourn their relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, at a hospital in Khan Younis. AP -
People receive bags of flour at a distribution centre of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), in the Rafah refugee camp. AFP -
Israel's military transports Palestinian detainees from the Gaza Strip, near Israel's border with Gaza, in southern Israel. Reuters -
Palestinians amongst the rubble of a building destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, Gaza. Bloomberg -
Thomas Hand, father of Emily Hand, during a press conference by family members of hostages in Gaza, at the Israeli embassy, London. Getty Images -
A man consoles a young Palestinian girl at Nasser Medical Hospital, Khan Yunis, Gaza. Getty Images -
A mother covers her daughter as a siren signals incoming rockets launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, in Tel Aviv. Reuters -
Palestinian medics care for babies evacuated from Al Shifa Hospital to the Emirates Hospital in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP -
A child collects firewood in a camp provided by the UN for displaced Palestinians who lost their homes in Israeli raids, in Khan Yunis. EPA -
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Palestinians flee the Zeitoun district, southern Gaza Strip, as battles between Israel and Hamas continue. AFP -
Thousands gathered at the State Library for the weekly protest in support of Palestinians in Melbourne, Australia. Paul Stafford / The National -
Palestinian rescuers evacuate an injured woman following an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis refugee camp. AP -
A rally to call for a ceasefire held at Dorchester Square in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. AFP -
Palestinians flee to the southern Gaza Strip along Salah al-Din Street, during the ongoing Israeli bombardment. AP -
Palestinians check taxis that were hit by the Israeli military along Salah al-Din Street, on the outskirts of Gaza city. AP -
Thousands of Palestinians flee to the southern Gaza Strip along Salah al-Din Street. AP -
Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip amid the continuing ground operation against Hamas. Reuters -
Palestinians search for survivors in the rubble of a building following Israeli bombardment in Khan Yunis. AFP -
Palestinians injured in air strikes arrive at Nasser Medical Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. Getty Images -
Palestinians collect books from the rubble of a cultural centre following an Israeli strike in Rafah. AFP -
Notices dropped by the Israeli military over Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip calling for those remaining to leave the area. AFP -
A man walks among debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Reuters -
Israeli flags on the top of destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip. AP -
Palestinians line to collect water in Rafah on Saturday, November 18. AP
A representative said earlier on Sunday that all ships owned or operated by Israeli companies, or carrying the Israeli flag, could be targeted.
A US Defence official said: “We're aware of the situation and are closely monitoring it."
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied the ship was Israeli while denouncing “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,” it said.
“On board the vessel are 25 crew members of various nationalities including Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Filipino and Mexican."
