Yemen’s Houthi group claimed responsibility on Tuesday for an attack on the Netherlands-flagged general cargo vessel Minervagracht, escalating already simmering regional tensions.
In a televised statement, the Yemeni armed forces spokesperson Yahya Sare’e said the targeting operation took place in the Gulf of Aden with a cruise missile.
The group’s military spokesperson announced the “operation resulted in a direct hit on the ship, which caught fire and is now at risk of sinking.”
The incident, occurring on Monday and confirmed by the military spokesperson, escalates tensions in the region, sparking concerns over maritime security.
The Iran-backed Houthis had threatened that the military operations of the Yemeni Armed Forces will not be ceased until the blockade on the Gaza Strip is lifted.
Iran-aligned Houthis, who since 2023 have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea, said their assaults are in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel’s war in Gaza.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces also affirm the continued imposition of a maritime ban on the Israeli enemy in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, and reiterate their warning to all companies and vessels against violating the previously announced ban order,” Yahya Sare’e noted in a statement.
Amsterdam-based shipowner Spliethoff said the general cargo vessel Minervagracht sustained “considerable damage” and is “experiencing a fire” after being hit by an unidentified explosive device in international waters of the Gulf of Aden on Monday.
All 19 crew members of the vessel have been safely evacuated to nearby vessels. Two of the 19 seafarers suffered injuries and are currently receiving medical attention onboard the nearby ships.
“The vessel was sailing Eastbound from Djibouti at the time of the incident and is not carrying any cargo. Spliethoff are engaging with international authorities and specialists to safeguard and secure the vessel,” the shipowner added in its latest report on Tuesday.
