Japan condemns the hijacking of a cargo ship operated by a Japanese company by Houthi rebels
The Japanese government this Monday “strongly” condemned the hijacking of a cargo ship operated by a company from its country by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and called for the release of the 25 crew sailors taken hostage in the incident.
Japanese government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno assured that Tokyo is working with relevant countries to ensure the immediate release of the ship and its crew, made up of 25 sailors of Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Filipino, Mexican and Romanian origin. The Houthis announced on Sunday the hijacking of the ship, which they claimed belonged to Israel, as part of a “military operation” that culminated in the ship’s rerouting to an unspecified port controlled by the insurgents, they said , that these actions were only directed against Israel Israeli ships. .
The cargo ship Galaxy Leader, which was carrying vehicles, is owned by a British company but is operated by the Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen (NYK Line). The Houthis said the insurgents treated the crew “in accordance with the teachings and values” of Islam and warned “all ships belonging to or collaborating with the Israeli enemy” that they were “a legitimate target.”