“The ship and its crew are in the hands of the brothers in the Hamas resistance movement and the Al-Qassam Brigades,” Houthi spokesman Nasr Al-Din Amer said, CNN reported. The Galaxy Leader cargo ship was hijacked by a Houthi-owned helicopter on November 19 in the Red Sea, 116 days ago, as the terrorists laid siege to the ship and took hostage the ship’s crew of 17 Filipinos, two Bulgarians, three Ukrainians, two Mexicans and a Romanian.

IDF artillery struck launchers used by Hezbollah following a series of identified launches from Lebanon into the areas of Margaliot, Malkia, and Shtula in northern Israel, the IDF stated on Friday afternoon.Additionally, the IDF attacked a Hezbollah observation post in the area of Ayta ash Shab, a military structure in the area of Aalma El Chaeb, and terrorist infrastructure in the area of Labbouneh. The IDF also reported that an additional Hezbollah military structure was struck in the area of Labbouneh, and IDF artillery struck an "imminent threat" in the Wadi Hamoul and Houla areas overnight.IDF fighter jets attack a building that was used by Hezbollah in Aalma El Chaeb, Lebanon, March 15, 2024 (IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization said early on Friday that it had received a report that missiles passed near a ship 50 nautical miles (93 km) southwest of al Hudaydah, Yemen."The Master reported two missiles flying over the vessel and heard two loud blasts in the distance," the UKMTO said in an advisory note, referring to the person in command of the ship.It added that the vessel reported no damage and that the crew are reported safe."The vessel is proceeding to its next port of call. Authorities are investigating," the advisory said.Houthi militants have repeatedly launched drones and missiles against international commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden since mid-November, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel's military actions in Gaza.