LONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Two commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have been identified as being connected to the same maritime group whose vessel was seized by Yemen's Houthis, based on shipping data and information provided by British maritime security company, Ambrey.

The recent seizure of a British-owned, Japanese-operated cargo ship by the Houthis has sparked concerns over international maritime security, with Israel describing the incident as an "Iranian act of terrorism."

The captured vessel, named Galaxy Leader and operated by Nippon Yusen, has prompted Japan to seek assistance from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iran in securing the release of the ship and its crew.

In addition to the Galaxy Leader, two other ships managed by Ray Car Carriers, namely the Glovis Star and Hermes Leader, were found to have altered their sailing routes on Sunday, Ambrey revealed.

The Hermes Leader initially headed south of Nishtun in Yemen, but then changed course and set a new destination of Hambantota, Sri Lanka, causing a business disruption of at least four days and an additional journey of 1,876 nautical miles.

Meanwhile, the Glovis Star briefly drifted in the Red Sea before resuming its voyage, as indicated by AIS ship tracking data.

The Isle of Man registered Galaxy Maritime Ltd, which owns the Galaxy Leader, released a statement confirming that the vessel had been "illegally boarded by military personnel via a helicopter" on November 19.

Though the company spokesperson declined to comment on the other two ships' diversions, political tensions surrounding the situation were apparent.

Last week, Houthi leaders announced their intention to launch further attacks on Israel, specifically targeting Israeli ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

As a result, the U.S. maritime administration, MARAD, issued an advisory urging caution when transiting through the area near the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah, approximately 50 miles from where the Galaxy Leader was hijacked.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed concern over the incident, highlighting the significant threat it poses to international law and order.

The ongoing developments have intensified the focus on maritime security in the region, raising fears of potential disruptions to global trade operations. Authorities and maritime organizations are closely monitoring the situation and working to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.