TOKYO, November 20. /TASS/. Japan’s Nippon Yusen (NYK Line) is the operator of the Galaxy Leader ship, seized in the Red Sea by Yemeni Ansar Allah (Houthi) rebels, Kyodo reported Sunday.

According to the report, the ship had a crew of 25 members from Bulgaria, Mexico, Romania, Ukraine and the Philippines, but no Israeli or Japanese nationals. The ship is owned by a company from the UK.

Previously, Ansar Allah representative Yahya Saria claimed that the movement captured an Israeli ship and towed it to the Yemeni coast. The crew has reportedly been detained. According to the Marine Traffic website, the ship was sailing under the Bahamian flag.

Meanwhile, the IDF stated that the Galaxy Leader, which sailed from Turkey to India, has nothing to do with Israel and there are no Israeli crew members. According to the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, the ship is owned by a British company, operated by a Japanese company, and carries a crew of 25 people, none of which are Israeli citizens. The Prime Minister’s office accused Iran of the seizure.