Oil tanker owned by Israeli billionaire 'hijacked' off coast of Yemen as US Navy 'engage' and ships warned to avoid area

Central Park (pictured) is owned and managed by a company belonging to Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer

A CARGO ship owned by an Israeli billionaire was reportedly hijacked off the coast of Yemen today.

The US navy has apparently engaged in the area as other ships have been warned to avoid the surrounding waters after the Central Park was seized.

Central Park (pictured) is owned and managed by a company belonging to Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer

It is not known yet who was behind the attack in the Aden Gulf.

However, the UK military did issue a warning to sailors nearby that "two black-and-white craft carrying eight persons in military-style clothing", had been spotted in the area.

The surrounding waters are controlled by Yemen's government which has battled Iran-backed Houthi rebels for years.

Just last week another Israeli-owned cargo ship was hijacked by the Iran-backed militia in the Red Sea.

According to reports the US Navy's 5th fleet - patrolling waters in the Middle East - appeared to engage in the situation.

They also apparently warned other ships to avoid the area after the attack.

Specific ownership of ships can be difficult to discern due to different companies owning stakes in or leasing out the vessels.

But reports suggest Central Park is owned by the London-based Zodiac Maritime company, which is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer's Zodiac Group.

Zodiac Maritime has also been targeted before amid conflict between Iran and Israel.

Two crew members were killed on board one of Zodiac's other ships, Mercer Street, in 2021.

The US identified the deadly drone attack to have come from Iran.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, who issued the warning about eight people in military-style gear, later said radio reports implied an attack had occurred on the Central Park.

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