The US navy has rescued an Israeli-affiliated cargo ship that was boarded by armed men in the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen. The MV Central Park, a commercial freighter carrying phosphoric acid, was sailing through the strategic waterway when it was attacked by five gunmen on two boats.
MV Central Park is owned and operated by Zodiac Maritime, a company led by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. The tanker departed from the Moroccan port of Safi and transited the Suez canal on 22 November.
The Turkish-captained vessel has a multinational crew of 22, consisting of Russian, Vietnamese, Bulgarian, Indian, Georgian and Filipino nationals. “Our priority is the safety of our 22 crew onboard,” said a representative from Zodiac Maritime.
The Pentagon reported that Chinese naval vessels ignored multiple distress calls from the Israeli-owned commercial tanker under attack. The USS Mason and allied ships, reportedly belonging to Japan, responded to the emergency and rescued the Israel-linked Central Park tanker.
The Pentagon reported that Chinese naval vessels ignored multiple distress calls from the Israeli-owned commercial tanker under attack. The USS Mason and allied ships, reportedly belonging to Japan, responded to the emergency and rescued the Israel-linked Central Park tanker.
The US forces detained the attackers and ensured the safety of the vessel and its crew. No injuries or casualties were reported. The motive and identity of the hijackers are still unknown. No claim of responsibility was immediately made.
The Bab al Mandeb Strait is a crucial maritime chokepoint that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, allowing ships to navigate from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Every day, millions of barrels of oil traverse the strait. It is estimated that approximately 9% of all seaborne-traded petroleum goes through the Bab al Mandeb.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, and efforts are being made to ensure the safety of commercial shipping in the region. The UN has called for a ceasefire and a political solution to end the war in Yemen, which has caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
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