DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Yemeni Houthi rebels advocated for assaults that led to Dutch cargo ships catching fire and drifting in the Gulf of Aden, underlining their capabilities in a campaign against maritime traffic amidst the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict.
The strike on the Minervagracht on Monday marked the most significant attack from the Iran-aligned Houthis in the Gulf of Aden in recent months, occurring further from the Red Sea, which has seen four vessels sunk since November 2023.
These events unfolded as Israel launched a new ground offensive aimed at Gaza city while prospects for a ceasefire hung in the balance. Additionally, the Middle East remains tense following renewed UN sanctions against Iran regarding its nuclear activities. The Houthis have ominously stated their intent to “use all available resources” to target various American oil companies.
A Houthi military spokesman, General Yahiya Sally, confirmed that a cruise missile was launched at the Minervagracht.
The U.S. Navy reported that the ship’s owner, Amsterdam-based Spliethoff, was accused of breaching a “ban on entry into the occupied Palestinian port.” An initial statement from the Maritime and Maritime Information Center indicated that Minervagracht had no connections to Israel, but a subsequent memo suggested they would “evaluate the vessel’s affiliations for potential links to Israel.”
The attack resulted in injuries to two crew members aboard another ship, the Minerba Glukt, which had a diverse crew of 19 from the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine. They were forced to abandon their vessel due to severe damage from the strike.
Spliethoff announced intentions to collaborate with international authorities and rescue teams to ensure the ship’s safety. European naval forces involved in Operation Aspides confirmed that the Minervagracht was ablaze and drifting after the crew was rescued.
“We want to reiterate our profound concern about this week’s incident, which poses a direct threat to innocent seafarers and infringes on our right to free navigation,” Spliethoff stated.
The Dutch Foreign Ministry indicated it would seek EU sanctions against the Houthis in response to the attack.
“This has long been a serious threat to freedom of navigation,” the statement emphasized. “Such actions are unacceptable.”
While the Houthis assert they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians—launching missile and drone strikes against over 100 ships and Israel in reaction to the Gaza war—not all their targets have any affiliation with Israel whatsoever.
The Houthi offensive broadens the scope of recent rebel operations, as the last recorded attack on commercial vessels occurred before the Minervagracht’s arrival in August 2024.
Over the past two years, their assaults have disturbed shipping activities in the Red Sea, which previously handled about $1 trillion in goods annually before the conflict.
During a temporary ceasefire in the war, Houthis had paused their attacks on transport and Israel, only to later come under an extensive airstrike campaign initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, who subsequently declared a ceasefire with the rebels.
The Houthi campaign against maritime transport has resulted in the deaths of at least eight mariners and the sinking of four vessels.
In the meantime, the Houthis announced sanctions against multiple American oil companies, including Chevron, Conocophillips, and Exxon Mobil, along with individuals and two ships. The rebels have a history of issuing such sanctions prior to launching attacks.
