The commercial ship Galaxy Leader was seized in the Hodeidah port area in Yemen on November 19.
The crew of the Galaxy Leader is composed of nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico, and Romania.
The ship was boarded by military personnel via a helicopter, and all communication with the vessel has been lost.
The United States has denounced the seizure of the ship, labeling it as a breach of international law.
The vessel is chartered by Japan's Nippon Yusen.
The commercial ship Galaxy Leader was reportedly seized in the Hodeidah port area in Yemen on November 19, according to the vessel's owner, Galaxy Maritime Ltd. The ship was boarded by military personnel via a helicopter, and since then, all communication with the vessel has been lost. The incident was captured in a video released by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis, showing armed men dropping from a helicopter and taking control of the cargo ship in the southern Red Sea.
The United States has denounced the seizure of the ship, labeling it as a breach of international law and demanding the immediate release of the vessel. The crew of the Galaxy Leader is composed of nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico, and Romania. The vessel is chartered by Japan's Nippon Yusen.
The seizure of the Galaxy Leader marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in Yemen, with the Hodeidah port area being a critical point of contention. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of commercial shipping routes in the region, which are vital for global trade. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with calls for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.