IAF strikes hijacked Galaxy Leader car carrier

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has bombed and sunk the Galaxy Leader car carrier in strikes against three Houthi-controlled naval ports in Yemen. The vessel, which was hijacked by Houthis in November 2023, was reported by the Israeli military to be used for monitoring international shipping “to facilitate further terrorist activities”. It was docked at the port of Ras Isa when it was hit, according to a post by the IAF on X. 

The strikes against the ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah and al-Salif, along with the nearby Ras Kanatib power station, came after Houthi attacks on the Magic Seas bulk carrier, with (currently unconfirmed) reports that this vessel has also been sunk. If confirmed, it would make it the third vessel sunk by Houthi militants. The last was the Tutor coal carrier in June last year.

The Magic Seas vessel was hit by a multimodal attack offshore from the port of Hodeidah that included small arms fire, unmanned surface vessels and missiles. In its latest threat circular, published on July 7, maritime analyst Ambrey reported that the Magic Seas was the first merchant vessel to be targeted by Houthis since December last year. 

The Galaxy Leader, which was owned by Galaxy Maritime and chartered by NYK, was sailing from Turkey when it was intercepted on November 19, 2024. NYK said at the time that no vehicles were aboard the vessel when it was taken. At the time a spokesperson for the Yemeni armed forces said the hijacking was taken in solidarity with the Palestinian people in the wake of Israel’s action in Gaza and that it would target further vessels that were linked to Israel. 

Ambrey’s latest assessment of the situation is that Israel-affiliated vessels remain at high risk and there is a “realistic possibility that US, UK and allied-affiliated vessels may face heightened risk during transit if their states participate in military action against the Houthis or Iran”.