In a shocking and daring act, the Houthi rebel group, backed by Iran, executed a dramatic helicopter raid on an internationally flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea, capturing the vessel and its entire crew. The harrowing incident was captured on a chilling video, released by the Yemen-based Houthis, which showcases the seizure of the ship, known as the Galaxy Leader.

The nearly four-minute-long footage, unveiled on Monday, begins by showing the Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader from a distance, before transitioning to a helicopter landing aggressively on the ship's deck – a display of aggression even by Iranian standards. Armed militants, wielding rifles, emerge from the helicopter and storm the deck, taking positions as they advance towards the vessel's bridge. They proceed to enter the pilothouse and confront the crew members. Additional clips depict rebels operating from various locations within the ship, as well as the Galaxy Leader sailing amidst smaller speedboats.

A spokesperson for the Houthi rebel group justified the hijacking, stating that the ship was associated with Israel. The group issued a warning, declaring that any ship connected to Israel would become a "legitimate target" for military action. They advised countries with citizens working in the Red Sea to avoid any affiliation with Israel-affiliated vessels.

Israeli officials, however, strongly refuted these claims. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement on Sunday, asserting that the Galaxy Leader is not an Israeli ship but had departed from Turkey en route to India. Publicly available shipping data from Saturday revealed that the vessel was halfway through its journey in the Red Sea. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that the ship is owned by a British company and operated by a Japanese firm, yet allegedly affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. They further stated that the crew of 25 members are of various nationalities, including Ukrainian and Mexican, but no Israelis. The incident was condemned by Netanyahu's office as an "Iranian attack," accusing Iran of escalating its aggression against global shipping lanes.

The condition and whereabouts of the crew held hostage on the Galaxy Leader remain unknown. The Japanese government is reportedly engaged in negotiations with the Houthis to secure their release. The shipping company, NYK Line, disclosed that the ship was empty of cargo at the time of its seizure near Hodeida, on Yemen's west coast. However, it remains unclear where precisely the ship is located, although the Houthi spokesperson stated that it was being taken to Yemen's coast.

Amidst heightening tensions, the Houthi rebel group vowed to target Israeli assets until Israel ceases its war against Hamas. Both Israel and the US have categorically ruled out ending military operations against Hamas and emphasized the need to eliminate the group entirely, attributing it to the October 7 terror attacks.

Since that fateful day, the Houthi rebels have repeatedly launched drone and missile attacks on Israel, prompting the activation of Israel's advanced air-defense network. The US Navy, operating in the Red Sea, has intercepted and prevented Houthi threats, including the recent downing of a drone. The Houthis have even shot down a US military MQ-9 Reaper drone off the coast of Yemen in early November.

The Houthis, together with other Iran-backed groups, have escalated attacks against Israel and the US throughout the ongoing war. Hezbollah militants in Lebanon continue to engage IDF troops in cross-border attacks on a daily basis. Similarly, various Tehran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria have unleashed rocket and drone assaults targeting US forces stationed in these countries.