Iran-Backed Houthis Used Helicopter to Hijack Cargo Ship in Red Sea, Officials Say

More information is coming out about the hijacking of a freight ship in the southern Red Sea, carried out by Houthi rebels.

NBC News, citing U.S. officials, reports that the Houthis used a helicopter to raid the ship, called the Galaxy Leader.

The ship is owned by a Japanese shipping company, according to NBC. It operates under the Bahamian flag.

It is believed the ship is partially owned by Israeli shipping magnate Abraham "Rami" Ungar.

Armed individuals rappelled from the helicopter on to the boat at around 1 p.m. local time.

The hijacking reportedly follows an omninous warning issued days earlier by the Houthis that read "We will sink your ships."

The warning featured an image of an Israeli commercial ship ablaze.

On Nov. 16, the International Maritime Security Construct, an international group that tries to maintain security in regional waters, issued an advisory warning ships to avoid Yemeni waters as much as possible and recommended travel at night.

The warning did not mention the Houthis specifically.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office characterized the hijacking as an act of "Iranian terrorism."

The ship was bound for India and was seized after leaving Turkey.

The 25-member crew includes people from Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Philippines and Mexico.