In a dramatic turn of events, members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard rappelled down from a helicopter onto the MSC Aries, a Portuguese-flagged container ship associated with London-based Zodiac Maritime, near the Strait of Hormuz. Reports confirm that the ship was seized on Saturday by members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to Tasnim News Agency, an Iranian outlet associated with the IRGC, the incident took place around noon local time. The IRGC, which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, operates independently of Iran's traditional army but functions as a branch of the Iranian armed forces.

An anonymous Middle East defense official shared a video showing commandos descending from a Soviet-era Mil Mi-17 helicopter onto a stack of containers on the ship. As more IRGC members arrived on the deck, a crew member can be heard urging colleagues to stay in and move to the ship's bridge.

The MSC Aries had last been located in Dubai on Friday and was headed towards the Strait of Hormuz. Notably, the ship had turned off its location data, a common practice for Israeli vessels in the region. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the incident and announced that British military officials are conducting an investigation. They have also urged vessels in the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.

The seizure comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and Israel. Intelligence reports suggest that Israel has been preparing for a major attack from Iran in retaliation for an April 1 attack on its embassy in Syria. The embassy attack resulted in the deaths of seven Iranian military advisers, including three senior IRGC members. U.S. officials have expressed concerns about the possibility of a large retaliatory attack and have issued travel warnings to American citizens. Furthermore, U.S. troops have been redeployed in the Middle East as tensions escalate.

This incident adds another layer to the ongoing regional tensions and raises concerns about the potential for a wider conflict. The actions of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard have further strained relations between Iran and the international community, particularly Israel and the United States. As the situation unfolds, the global community will be closely monitoring the developments in the Strait of Hormuz.