A ship anchored off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates has been seized and is heading toward Iranian waters, the British military said on Thursday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre reported that the vessel was taken by unauthorized personnel while anchored 70 kilometres northeast of the UAE port of Fujairah, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Seizure Details and Regional Context
The seizure comes as U.S. President Donald Trump was meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, with talks expected to focus on the Iran war that has disrupted global oil and gas trade. The incident occurred hours after Israel said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had quietly visited the UAE, though the UAE swiftly denied any secret visit. The Gulf nation normalized relations with Israel in 2020, a move criticized by Iran, which has repeatedly suggested Israel maintains a military and intelligence presence in the UAE.
The UKMTO did not name the seized ship and said it is investigating. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the seizure.
Hezbollah Drone Attack Injures Israelis
A Hezbollah drone exploded inside Israel, injuring three civilians, two severely, according to the Israeli military and hospitals. Israel and Hezbollah have traded near-constant fire despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on April 17. Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to hold another round of direct talks in Washington on Thursday, as the Trump administration pushes for a breakthrough. The United Nations has accused Hezbollah of drone strikes near its peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, urging both sides to observe the ceasefire.
Lebanon-Israel Talks as Ceasefire Nears End
Lebanon and Israel are set to hold new peace talks in Washington starting Thursday as their latest ceasefire nears its end. On the eve of negotiations, Lebanon’s health ministry reported that 22 people, including eight children, were killed on Wednesday as Israel intensified airstrikes. The attacks pounded about 40 locations in Lebanon’s south and east, according to the state-run National News Agency. The two nations last met on April 23, when Trump announced a three-week ceasefire extension and expressed optimism about a historic agreement. However, the summit did not occur, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun citing the need for a security deal and an end to Israeli attacks before such a meeting. The ceasefire, effective April 17, had been extended through Sunday.
