Israel bombs the famous hijacked Galaxy Leader ship — what the Houthis were doing will stun you

The long-hijacked Galaxy Leader has returned to the spotlight, this time as the focal point of a major Israeli military operation. Israeli airstrikes targeted key Yemeni ports as well as the infamous ship, which Houthi forces had repurposed in unexpected ways.

Why did Israel target the Galaxy Leader now?

Israeli troops attack Yemeni ports and Galaxy Leader ship, IDF says Israel Defense troops attacked three Yemeni ports overnight Monday local time, asserting that the Houthi forces exploit the ports to "transfer weapons from the Iranian regime," the IDF said in a statement, as per a report by ABC News.

What were the Houthis doing with the ship?

Israeli forces also say they hit the Galaxy Leader, a ship captured by Houthi forces in November 2023, just after Israel and Hamas began fighting after Hamas led a terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostage. The strikes were part of the IDF's campaign against Yemen.


The truce agreement between Israel and Hamas earlier this year included the crew of the Galaxy Leader, who were kept captive from November 2023 to January 2025.

The IDF stated in the statement that Houthi fighters had "installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities."

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After the strikes, a Houthi official said on X that the Houthi fighters "effectively repelled" the Israeli attacks.
Israel's assaults on Yemen coincide with a precarious truce agreement between Iran and Israel after their 12-day conflict. Israel and Hamas are now discussing a new ceasefire agreement that would ensure the release of some of the 20 surviving hostages that Hamas still holds in Gaza and halt Israeli military activity in the Gaza Strip.

How does this impact current ceasefire talks?

Both Israeli and Hamas negotiators traveled to Doha, Qatar, over the weekend to resume talks after Hamas accepted the proposal, which was presented to them last week and was mediated by the United States and supported by Israel, as per a report by ABC News.

FAQs

Why did Israel bomb the Galaxy Leader ship?
Israel claims the Houthis installed a radar system on the hijacked ship to track maritime vessels for terrorist purposes. The ship had been under their control since November 2023.

What's the latest on Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks?
Talks are currently underway in Qatar. Hamas recently responded positively to a US-backed proposal, and Israel is now considering next steps while carrying out targeted strikes elsewhere.