The suspected Houthi attack on a Dutch ship injured 2 people, the crew abandoned the vessel.

On Monday, in the waters of the Gulf of Aden, a missile strike by Houthi rebels from Yemen set fire to the Dutch-flagged cargo ship Minervagracht. Two sailors were injured in the incident, and the crew was forced to abandon the damaged vessel.

This is the most serious incident in the Gulf of Aden, located at some distance from the Red Sea, where in July the Houthis sank two ships.

Although the rebels did not claim responsibility for the attack on Minervagracht, they threatened to attack ships as part of their campaign related to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, especially amid the escalation around Gaza. Tensions in the region have also increased due to the re-imposition of UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

Events Surrounding Minervagracht

Minervagracht was attacked on September 23, but the strike was unsuccessful at that time. The Gulf of Aden connects the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean through the nearby Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. It is reported that on Monday, a missile launch recorded in Yemen hit the Minervagracht vessel.

The ship’s owner, Spliethoff, described the strike as “causing significant damage.” The crew of 19 was rescued by helicopter, with two sailors injured.

Situation in the Region

European naval forces operating in the area, known as Operation Aspides, reported on Tuesday morning that Minervagracht was “ablaze and adrift” after the crew’s rescue. The ship’s crew consists of citizens from the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine, with one injured person taken for treatment in Djibouti and another in stable condition evacuated by helicopter.

The French Naval Operations Information Center confirmed that the attack on the ship was carried out by the Houthis. The Houthis usually do not rush to claim responsibility and may wait several days before announcing attacks.

Houthi Reaction

The Houthis have already launched missiles and drones at more than 100 ships in response to the war in Gaza, justifying their actions in solidarity with the Palestinians. However, in past cases, their targets often had no connection to Israel.

The Joint Maritime Information Center, operationally controlled by the US Navy, previously reported that Minervagracht had no ties to Israel. This new attack demonstrates the expansion of the Houthis’ recent offensives, as the last recorded attack on a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden occurred in August 2024.

Context and Consequences

The Houthis, whose propaganda states “Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse the Jews,” began attacks on Israel and maritime routes in November 2023, less than a month after the mass killing committed by Hamas in Israel on October 7, which became the starting point of the conflict in Gaza.

In January 2025, when a truce was reached between Israel and Hamas, the Houthis temporarily suspended their attacks. By that time, they had already launched over 40 ballistic missiles and numerous drone attacks on Israel, including an incident that resulted in the death of a civilian and injuries in Tel Aviv in July 2024.

Attacks and Regional Consequences

Since the resumption of Israeli army attacks against Hamas on March 18 this year, the Houthis have launched 72 ballistic missiles and at least 23 drones at targets in Israel, although several missiles did not reach their targets. Houthi attacks continued even after the Israeli army confirmed it had destroyed high-profile targets within the group, including the prime minister and several ministers as a result of an airstrike.