LONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The Galaxy Leader, a commercial ship owned by Isle of Man registered Galaxy Maritime Ltd, was reported to have been "illegally boarded by military personnel via a helicopter" on November 19. The vessel is now in the Hodeidah port area in Yemen, according to the owner.

Galaxy Maritime, the owner of the pure car carrier Galaxy Leader, stated that all communications with the ship had been lost after the incident. The company, however, declined to comment further on the political or geopolitical implications surrounding the incident.

A video released by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis on Monday showed armed men descending from a helicopter and seizing the cargo ship in the southern Red Sea. The United States strongly condemned this act, classifying it as a breach of international law, and urging the immediate release of the vessel and crew.

"The Houthi seizure of the motor vessel Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea is a flagrant violation of international law," stated U.S. State Department spokeman Matthew Miller during a briefing. "We demand the immediate release of the ship and its crew, and we will consult with our allies and U.N. partners regarding the appropriate next steps."

The Galaxy Leader, flagged by the Bahamas, is chartered by Japan's Nippon Yusen and has a multi-national crew comprised of individuals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico, and Romania, as disclosed by Galaxy Maritime.

The owners and managers of the vessel firmly believe that this seizure represents a significant violation of freedom of passage for the global fleet, posing a serious threat to international trade, Galaxy Maritime added.

Further updates on the situation and efforts to secure the release of the Galaxy Leader are awaited.