The container ship, flying the Portuguese flag, was commandeered by IRGC members in a heliborne operation, redirecting it towards Iranian territorial waters.

Operated by the Zodiac Maritime Shipping Company, the vessel has ties to Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. This incident escalates tensions between Iran and Israel following the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1, resulting in the death of seven Iranian military advisors, including IRGC senior commander Major General Mohammad Reza Zahedi.

Iran has condemned the attack as a breach of international law and vowed retaliation. Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has emphasized that the strike on the consulate constitutes an assault on Iranian territory, affirming that the Zionist regime will face consequences.

The Israeli regime has heightened its state of readiness in anticipation of a potential Iranian response. (ILKHA)