This Photo Does Not Depict the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Taking Control of an Israeli Ship
The Claim
Iranian forces have captured the Portuguese vessel MSC ARIES in the Strait of Hormuz.
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Several social media accounts have recently circulated a photo claimed to show an Iranian Revolutionary Guard soldier on the deck of the Israeli ship that Iran seized in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, April 13.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The photo is old and dates back to a 2021 joint military exercise between the Iranian and Russian naval forces, not depicting an Iranian Revolutionary Guard soldier on the deck of the Israeli ship recently seized in the Strait of Hormuz.
Maritime Security Belt Exercise
The photo was taken on February 17, 2021. It captures a joint military maneuver between the Iranian and Russian naval forces in the Arabian Sea and the northern Indian Ocean, named the 'Maritime Security Belt.'
Units from the naval forces of both the Iranian Army and the Revolutionary Guard participated in this maneuver, along with three Russian naval vessels. The exercise covered an area of 17,000 square kilometers and lasted for three days.
The maneuver simulated a pirate attack on a commercial ship, providing training to liberate a hijacked commercial vessel and conducting firefighting exercises at sea.
In a media statement at the time, Major General Hossein Khanzadi, Commander of the Iranian Navy, stated that the maneuvers aimed to expand cooperation between the two countries to enhance regional security.
Iran Seizes an Israeli Ship
This claim arose after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that it had seized and taken control of an Israeli cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz, directing it towards Iranian territorial waters.
The Iranian IRNA agency reported that the Revolutionary Guard Navy halted the ship, "MSC Aries," by executing a military landing operation near the Strait of Hormuz. It noted that the ship was flying the Portuguese flag and was associated with the "Zodiac" group, owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
In response to this incident, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that Iran would face consequences if it opted for further escalation.
Hagari added, in a statement, that "Israel is on high alert. We have increased our readiness to protect Israel from further Iranian aggression."
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