Houthis' Ship Seizures in Yemen and Red Sea Raise Concerns

The Galaxy Leader, a commercial ship, was illegally boarded by military personnel via a helicopter and is now in the Hodeidah port area in Yemen, according to its owner. The vessel's communication was lost after the incident. The Houthis, backed by Iran, released video footage showing armed men seizing the cargo ship in the Red Sea. The United States condemned the seizure as a breach of international law and demanded the immediate release of the ship and its crew. The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader has a crew from various nationalities and is chartered by Japan's Nippon Yusen. The owner expressed concern for the safety and security of the 25 crew members currently being held.