A British tanker worth $50 million, which was hijacked by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, has now been turned into a bizarre “tourist attraction”. The Galaxy Leader cargo ship was captured in November and taken to Yemen, where male-only groups come from far and wide to visit what the terror group proudly declares as their biggest war trophy.
Houthis: From Pirates to Sightseers
Gunmen from Yemen’s Houthi rebels boarded the Japan-chartered container ship on November 19, taking the entire crew hostage. The fate of the 25 crew members is still unknown. The Galaxy Leader is owned by a British company, which is partially owned by Israeli tycoon Abraham Ungar. The Houthis, who claim to be acting in “solidarity” with people in the besieged Gaza Strip, sailed the ship back to Yemen and opened it up as a designated “tourist cruise ship”.
For just a dollar per trip, male-only groups can board wooden boats five times a week to tour the hijacked carrier. The Houthis have adorned the ship with Yemeni and Palestinian flags, as well as anti-American and anti-Israeli banners. Their twisted rallying cry is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.
A Seized Ship as a Symbol of Conflict
Following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on October 7, the rebels launched a series of missile and drone attacks on passing commercial ships. While the Houthis claim to avenge Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas, they have been targeting ships with little or no connection to Israel, effectively turning one of the world’s largest shipping lanes into an active warzone.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, also known as the “Gate of Tears,” normally sees about 12 percent of all global trade passing through it. In response, a US-led naval coalition has been aggressively patrolling the Red Sea, and both US and British forces have conducted strikes on Houthi military sites across Yemen to keep the vital shipping lane open. However, these efforts have done little to deter the Iranian-backed group or dampen the enthusiasm of visitors to the seized vessel.
A Perverted Tourist Attraction
During a recent visit, Zubair al-Haidari, from Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital, expressed his pride and honor in witnessing the “Israeli ship” anchored off Hodeida on the Red Sea coast. He and other visitors took pictures and chewed khat, a plant that generates a mild high and is widely consumed in Yemen. Onboard the ship, some visitors even performed a traditional dance featuring the daggers that many Yemenis carry tucked into their belts, accompanied by chants glorifying the Houthis.
Most visitors claimed to have seen the 25 crew members, who represent Bulgaria, the Philippines, Ukraine, and Mexico. Hizam al-Assad, of the Houthi political bureau, referred to the Galaxy Leader as a “tourist attraction” and stated that the visitors were proof of the Yemeni people’s desire to meet the enemy and confront him.
Another visitor, Hamada al-Baydani, traveled 250 miles from Al-Bayda to see the seized ship, which he described as “a source of pride for Yemenis.” The Houthis released a video a few days after detaining the vessel, showing a military general welcoming a group they claimed was the crew. However, the militants have not provided any information on their fate since.
Amidst Rising Tensions
These events occur as tensions continue to rise in the region. A Royal Navy destroyer, HMS Diamond, successfully defended itself against a Houthi drone ambush on Saturday. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the attack was repelled using Sea Viper missiles. This marks only the third time a Type 45 destroyer has deployed these devastating weapons. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps assured the public that Britain remains undeterred by the drone assault.
Additionally, a burning British oil tanker was rescued off the coast of Yemen last week after being struck by a missile. The Houthis, who have become increasingly bold in recent weeks, claimed responsibility for the attack on the Marlin Luanda ship. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a deadly drone attack on a US base in Jordan resulted in the deaths of three US troops and injured 34 others. President Joe Biden stated that the US would respond and hold those responsible accountable at a time and manner of their choosing.
Yemen’s Houthi Rebels
The Houthi rebels have been terrorizing the Red Sea by launching frequent missile and drone attacks on vessels and warships. They have held approximately £1 trillion of world trade hostage, turning a crucial shipping lane into an active warzone. With their slogan being “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam,” the group has targeted ships connected to Israel as a display of solidarity with their ally, Hamas. However, they have also attacked commercial vessels with no links to Israel, causing a significant disruption in global sea traffic.
Despite threats and strikes from the West, the Houthis remain undeterred in their assaults. In the face of intense ripples from the Israel-Gaza war throughout the region, Iran is suspected of stoking the chaos. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea increased by 50 percent between November and December, as the rebels vowed to continue their assaults until Israel halted its offensive in Gaza.
A Symbol of Conflict
The seized ship has become a viral sensation on social media, with Houthi supporters traveling hundreds of miles to visit it. One visitor, dubbed “Tim-Houthi Chalamet,” went viral on the dark side of TikTok after posting videos of himself next to the stolen ship, chanting the slogans of his Houthi terrorist pals.
The Inside Scoop on the Houthis
The Houthi rebels are a Shia militant group that now controls most of Yemen. They were largely ignored by the world for over a decade until the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war brought them into the spotlight. Since then, they have disrupted global sea traffic, turning the Red Sea into an active warzone. Their attacks on ships are in solidarity with their ally, Hamas, and their slogans express their hostility towards America, Israel, and the Jews.
Conclusion
The transformation of a British tanker into a Houthi “tourist cruise ship” is a chilling reminder of the ongoing conflict in Yemen and the escalating tensions in the region. Male-only groups pay a dollar to visit the seized vessel, draped in Yemeni and Palestinian flags, and displaying anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiments. The ship has become a morbid attraction, drawing twisted visitors who celebrate the Houthis’ violent actions. As international forces strive to keep the vital shipping lane open, the Houthi rebels continue their assaults, undeterred by strikes and threats. The fate of the 25 crew members remains unknown, while the viral fame of the seized ship highlights the alarming influence of extremist ideologies on platforms like TikTok. To read more, click here.