The Japanese government wants to mediate in the release of a ship hijacked in Yemen. They had already made contact with the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels who had hijacked the ship. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said they are also “in contact with Israel.”
“In addition to contacting the Houthis directly, we also urge Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran and other affected countries to urge the Houthis to release the ship and crew members as soon as possible,” she said. The Japanese government had previously “strongly” condemned the seizure of the cargo ship.
The affected ship ‘Galaxy Leader’ sails under the flag of the Bahamas and is chartered by the Japanese company Nippon Yusen (NYK Line). The company has already formed a response team to gather information and ensure the safety of the 25 crew members, the company said.
Ship brought to the coast of Yemen
According to the Houthis, the ship was hijacked in the Red Sea and taken to the Yemeni coast. The Houthis are supported by Iran in the civil war in Yemen and have already fired several rockets and drones at Israel in the Gaza war (see video above). They see themselves as part of the “axis of resistance” directed against Israel, which also includes Hamas and the Shia Islamist Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
Israel: “Iranian act of terror”
The group threatened to attack ships in the Red Sea almost a week ago. The Israeli Foreign Ministry spoke of an “Iranian terrorist act of global proportions”, but the army said on Platform X that it was not an Israeli ship. Israeli citizens are also not allowed to be on board. The cast consists of people from Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Philippines and Mexico.
The Iranian government denied allegations of involvement in the hijacking.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
