New Delhi: Israeli army issued a strict warning to Iran, cautioning that the country will face severe repercussions for escalating the tension in the Middle East. The warning came in the wake of Iran's announcement that is has seized an Israeli cargo ship over the weekend. According to reports, Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Saturday seized a container ship in the Gulf, which they claimed was linked to Israel, leading to heightened tensions in the region.
"Iran will bear the consequences for choosing to escalate the situation any further," military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a statement, reported news agency AFP.
According to IRNA state news agency, the Israel-linked container vessel, 'MCS Aries' was seized by Sepah (Guards) Navy Special Forces in a heliborne operation "near the Strait of Hormuz". The container ship has been “directed towards the territorial waters" of Iran, the report stated.
"Vessel reported to have been seized by regional authorities off the coast of Fujairah,” the Royal Navy's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said, without providing further details.
As per security firm Ambrey, it noted “still footage of at least three individuals fast-roping from a helicopter onto what appeared to be a container ship".
Iran's Revolutionary Guards “previously used this method of boarding while seizing vessels in the Strait of Hormuz", Ambrey added.
According to vessel tracking websites vesselfinder.com and marinetraffic.com, the ‘MSC Aries’ has been identified as a Portuguese-flagged container ship. Both platforms indicate its last known location as being in the Gulf region.
Meanwhile, in response to Iran's threat of retaliation after a deadly strike on the consular section of its embassy in Damascus, Syria, nearly two weeks back, the United States announced plans to deploy additional military forces to the area. The attack, which took place on April 1, resulted in the deaths of at least seven members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, including two high-ranking generals.
President Joe Biden stated on Friday said that he expected Iran to target its longstanding adversary, Israel, "sooner rather than later", which Tehran has accused of orchestrating the attack on its consulate.