A third tanker linked to Israel has been seized off the coast of Yemen

In a development off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, assailants captured a tanker associated with Israel. Although no specific group has claimed responsibility, this incident follows at least two other recent maritime attacks connected to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The seized vessel is the Liberian-flagged Central Park, managed by Zodiac Maritime. The company, along with private intelligence firm Ambrey, reported the incident, and an anonymous American defense official confirmed it. Zodiac referred to the seizure as a "suspected piracy incident" and expressed concern for the safety of the multinational crew aboard, consisting of individuals from Russia, Vietnam, Bulgaria, India, Georgia, and the Philippines. The ship, carrying phosphoric acid, is allegedly owned by Clumvez Shipping Inc., but records also link Zodiac Maritime as the owner.

The perpetrators behind the attack remain unidentified. Aden, the nearby area, is controlled by forces allied with Yemen's internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition, making it unclear who might be responsible. The Gulf of Aden region theoretically falls under the control of these forces and is distant from Houthi-controlled territory. Somali pirates are not known to operate in this area. A U.S. defense official mentioned that "an unknown number of unidentified armed individuals" seized the ship and that U.S. and coalition forces are monitoring the situation.

Zodiac Maritime, part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer's Zodiac Group, has faced previous incidents in the ongoing shadow war between Iran and Israel. In 2021, an attack assessed to be carried out by Iran killed two crew members aboard Zodiac's oil tanker Mercer Street.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations issued warnings about military-style craft in the area before acknowledging the seizure. The Central Park's location is reported over 60 kilometers south of Yemen's coast in the Gulf of Aden. This incident follows the attack on the CMA CGM Symi, owned by another Israeli billionaire, by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.

Both the Central Park and the Symi had turned off their Automatic Identification System trackers, a safety measure ships usually keep active. This comes amid a series of attacks on global shipping during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, despite a truce and hostage exchanges. The Houthis also seized a vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea off Yemen, adding to the complexities of the situation.