Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seizes container ship linked to Israel: report

Members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reportedly seized control of a container ship linked to Israel on Saturday. 

According to an Iranian outlet, the ship was seized around noon on Saturday near the Strait of Hormuz, which provides the only passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.

“Sources have reported that the vessel is the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, a container ship associated with London-based Zodiac Maritime,” the outlet states, adding that “Zodiac Maritime is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group.”

Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard reportedly rappelled down from a Soviet-era Mil Mi-17 helicopter, according to The Hill. A Middle East defense official provided video of the attack to The Associated Press.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations is investigating the incident.

Americans have been warned to avoid traveling to Israel and troops have been moved around to different positions in the Middle East.

On Friday, Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets from Lebanon towards northern Israel, resulting in the IDF firing back with airstrike attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.