Attackers said to seize tanker with links to Israel off the coast of Yemen

Attackers seize a tanker linked to Israel off the coast of Aden, Yemen, the ship’s managers and a private intelligence firm say.

While no group immediately claimed responsibility, it comes as at least two other maritime attacks in recent days have been linked to the Israel-Hamas war in particular the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The attackers seize the Central Park, managed by Zodiac Maritime, in the Gulf of Aden, the company and private intelligence firm Ambrey say.

Zodiac calls the attack “a suspected piracy incident.”

“Our priority is the safety of our 22 crew onboard,” Zodiac says in a statement. “The Turkish-captained vessel has a multinational crew consisting of a crew of Russian, Vietnamese, Bulgarian, Indian, Georgian and Filipino nationals. The vessel is carrying a full cargo of phosphoric acid.”

Zodiac describes the vessel as being owned by Clumvez Shipping Inc., though other records directly linked Zodiac as the owner. London-based Zodiac Maritime is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group. British corporate records listed two men with the last name Ofer as a current and former director of Clumvez Shipping.