13 Apr 2024 | 10:49 AM UTC
Strait of Hormuz: Iran's forces reportedly seize container vessel in Strait of Hormuz April 13
Seizure of container vessel in Strait of Hormuz on April 13 attributed to Iranian-backed forces; disruptions to maritime operations likely.
Armed forces, reportedly from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval forces seized a container vessel, MSC Aries, in the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf on April 13. The incident occurred 50 NM (92 km) northeast of Fujairah, UAE. Reports indicate the forces boarded the vessel from a helicopter used by the IRGC. There have been no reports of violence or casualties associated with the incident. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated the vessel was "seized by regional authorities". The IRGC provided no specific reasons for the vessel's seizure. Further details are unavailable at this time.
Persian Gulf littoral states and their allies are almost certain to increase naval and aerial surveillance in the days ahead.
Exercise caution and reconfirm routes with maritime authorities if transiting or shipping freight through the Persian Gulf in the coming days.
It is unconfirmed why forces seized the vessel and it is possible it strayed into Iranian territorial waters. However, the incident comes at a time of considerably heightened tensions between Israel and Iran amid a recent fatal strike on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus, Syria that was attributed to Israel. The Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries had been chartered by Zodiac Maritime, a subsidiary of the Zodiac Group, which is in turn owned by an Israeli national.
