Israel-linked tanker seized off Yemen coast
An unidentified group of attackers seized an Israel-linked tanker off the coast of Yemen on Sunday. A US Navy warship responded to a distress call and secured the seized ship, an official said.
The tanker, Central Park, managed by Zodiac Maritime, was seized in the Gulf of Aden. Zodiac Maritime called the incident a “suspected piracy incident.”
“Our priority is the safety of our 22-person crew onboard,” Zodiac Maritime said in a statement. The multinational crew consists of individuals from Russia, Vietnam, Bulgaria, India, Georgia, and the Philippines.
The vessel was found to be owned by Clumvez Shipping Inc., but records also directly linked Zodiac as the owner. London-based Zodiac Maritime is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group. Two men with the last name Ofer, including Daniel Guy Ofer, were listed as directors of Clumvez Shipping.
It remains unclear who was behind the attack. The ship was seized despite being in an area controlled by forces allied to Yemen’s internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition.
Multiple attacks on maritime vessels in the region have been linked to tensions between Israel and Hamas. In 2021, a drone attack, believed to have been carried out by Iran, killed two crew members aboard Zodiac’s oil tanker Mercer Street off the coast of Oman.
While US and coalition forces responded to the distress call from Central Park and secured the safety of the crew, the incident raises concerns over the safety of shipping in the region amid ongoing conflicts between Israel and its adversaries.