Reports of captured Israeli ship near Yemen suspicious: Sources
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Sources tell Al Mayadeen that the reports of a captured Israeli ship being circulated possibly have a hidden agenda.
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The Central Park tanker owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer sailing toward the Mediterranean on July 2021 (Social media)
The reports regarding the capture of an Israeli ship in the Gulf of Aden off the Yemeni coast are entirely questionable, Arab sources told Al Mayadeen on Sunday.
Earlier today, Israeli media reported that a group took over an Israeli-affiliated naval vessel that was sailing in the Gulf of Aden, hinting that the operation was carried out by the Yemeni Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, in a report, maritime security organization Ambrey said, "US naval forces are engaged in the situation," which was later also stated by AP, citing a US defense official.
Read more: Yemen demonstrates in solidarity with Resistance, Palestinians
However, Al Mayadeen's sources warned against the real intentions behind releasing these reports, stressing that they are either an Israeli fabrication or a ploy to force the deployment of foreign forces.
Israeli media said the ship in question is the Central Park tanker, owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer's company Zodiac Maritime based in the UK, which is currently carrying phosphoric acid. The news outlets also claimed that the billionaire's firm established an emergency unit to attend to the incident.
The Yemeni Armed Forces have openly claimed responsibility for their consistent launch operations on Israeli military sites in occupied Palestine, utilizing ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and attack drones.
Furthermore, Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree declared on November 19 that all ships owned or operated by Israeli companies or ones bearing the Israeli flag, are now a target to the country's military in support of Gaza, calling on countries to withdraw their citizens operating on such ships.
On the same day after issuing the warning, Yemen openly announced the capturing of one Israeli ship, the Galaxy Leader, and leading it toward the Hodeidah port. However, since then, there have been no public statements of any operations.
On this note, an Israeli ship was targeted in the Arabian Sea (north of the Indian Ocean) on Thursday night — Friday dawn shortly before the temporary truce in Gaza came into effect.
Sources confirmed to Al Mayadeen that the ship was directly hit, and it caught fire as a result of the attack.
However, no one claimed the operation, and the party behind it has not been specified.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
