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Israel-linked tanker seized off Yemen; Filipino crew onboard

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Map showing the location of the Gulf of Aden, located between Yemen and Somalia. Nearby bodies of water include the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Image by Norman Einstein" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/overseas/11/27/alden.jpg"/><figcaption>Map showing the location of the Gulf of Aden, located between Yemen and Somalia. Nearby bodies of water include the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.<em> Image by Norman Einstein</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A tanker linked to an Israel-affiliated company was seized off Yemen Sunday by armed individuals, a US defense official confirmed, following a series of incidents on the same shipping route.</p><p>&quot;There are indications that an unknown number of unidentified armed individuals seized the M/V Central Park in the Gulf of Aden Nov. 26. US and coalition forces are in the vicinity and we are closely monitoring the situation,&quot; the official told AFP.</p><p>The maritime security firm Ambrey said that &quot;US naval forces are engaged in the situation&quot; after the incident involving the Central Park, which is owned and managed by a UK-based, Israel-linked company.</p><p>Owner Zodiac Maritime said that among the 22 crew were Russian, Vietnamese, Bulgarian, Indian, Georgian and Filipino nationals, as well as a Turkish captain, according to Ambrey.</p><p>Yemen&#x27;s Iran-backed Huthi rebels had previously threatened to attack the tanker if it did not divert to the port of Hodeida, it said.</p><p>Communications from a US coalition warship had been intercepted warning the Central Park to disregard the messages, Ambrey added.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-CGFYNdL6hw?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>The boarding took place offshore from the Yemeni port city of Aden, with another vessel in the area reporting &quot;an approach by eight persons on two skiffs wearing military uniforms&quot;, Ambrey said.</p><p>The latest incident comes after a US defence official said an Israeli-owned cargo ship was damaged in a suspected Iranian drone attack in the Indian Ocean on Friday, and a week after Huthis seized an Israel-linked cargo vessel in the southern Red Sea.</p><p>The Huthis, declaring themselves part of the &quot;axis of resistance&quot; of Iran-affiliated groups, have launched a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since the unprecedented October 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel.</p><p>Israel has vowed to &quot;crush&quot; the Islamist group which controls the Gaza Strip, after the Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 240 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.</p><p>Gaza&#x27;s Hamas government says that nearly 15,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israeli aerial bombardment and ground operations in the Palestinian territory since the war began.</p><div><strong>bur-csp/srm</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S3Eev3Pkfdw?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Owner Zodiac Maritime said that among the 22 M/V Central Park crew were Russian, Vietnamese, Bulgarian, Indian, Georgian and Filipino nationals.