UKMTO Reports Vessel Seizure by “Regional Authorities” Near Fujairah, UAE
CAIRO: On Saturday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said that a ship had been taken into custody by “regional authorities” fifty nautical miles (92 km) northeast of Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates.
The authorities to whom UKMTO was referring were not specified.
Ambrey, a British marine security company, also disclosed a “boarding” event at the same site on Saturday.
Houthis who support Iran have been staging attacks on Red Sea vessels for months in support of the Palestinians fighting in Gaza.
The head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy stated on Tuesday that Tehran saw Israel’s presence in the United Arab Emirates as a danger and that, should the need arise, it may seal the Strait of Hormuz, which is the entry to the Gulf. The eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz is where Fujairah is situated.
The ongoing Houthi strikes in the Red Sea have caused significant disruptions to international shipping, necessitating longer and more costly detours across Southern Africa. This has also raised concerns that the Israel-Hamas conflict may expand and perhaps destabilize the entire Middle East.
Following the attacks on ships, the United States and Britain launched strikes on Houthi targets.