Yemen’s Houthi militants have claimed responsibility for an attack on the Dutch-flagged cargo ship Minervagracht in the Gulf of Aden, which caught fire following a reported cruise missile strike. The assault injured two sailors and necessitated the helicopter evacuation of all 19 crew members, according to the EU maritime mission Aspides and the ship’s operator.
The Houthis, aligned with Iran, have conducted multiple attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea since 2023, targeting ships they allege are connected to Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza. The group stated that Minervagracht was attacked because its owner violated “the entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine.”
Amsterdam-based operator Spliethoff confirmed that the vessel was in international waters when it was hit, sustaining significant damage and fire. This incident marks the Houthis’ first attack on a commercial ship since September 1, when they targeted the Israeli-owned tanker Scarlet Ray near Yanbu in Saudi Arabia.
Earlier attacks by the group include the sinking of the bulk carrier Magic Seas and the cargo ship Eternity C in the Red Sea in July 2024. The last major strike in the Gulf of Aden before Minervagracht involved the Singapore-flagged container ship Lobivia, also in July 2024.
