Israel has launched a new ground offensive targeting Gaza City, as efforts to reach a ceasefire remain uncertain. Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate following the United Nations’ decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
In a separate development, the Houthi rebel group has threatened to “employ all means and instruments available” to target several American oil companies. The Houthis recently fired a cruise missile that struck the Minervagracht, according to Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree. Saree accused the ship’s owners, Amsterdam-based Spliethoff, of violating “the entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine.”
Initially, the US Navy-overseen Joint Maritime Information Centre stated that the Minervagracht had no ties to Israel. However, on Tuesday, the Centre announced it was “reviewing vessel affiliations for possible links to Israel.”
The missile attack wounded two crew members aboard the Minervagracht. The ship’s 19-member crew includes nationals from the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine. Following the strike, which inflicted substantial damage, the crew was forced to evacuate the vessel.
Spliethoff confirmed on Wednesday that it is working with international authorities and salvage experts to “safeguard and secure the vessel.” Operation Aspides, a European naval force operating in the region, reported on Tuesday that the Minervagracht was on fire and adrift after the crew’s evacuation.
In a statement, Spliethoff expressed deep concern over the incident, calling it “a direct attack on our innocent seafarers and a breach of the right of free navigation.”
The Netherlands’ Foreign Ministry also announced on Wednesday that it will pursue European Union sanctions against the Houthis in response to the attack. The ministry stated, “The Houthis long have posed a serious threat to the freedom of navigation. This is unacceptable.”
Over the past two years, the Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks on more than 100 ships, as well as on Israel, citing solidarity with the Palestinians amid the war in Gaza. However, some of their targets have had tenuous or no connections to Israel.
This recent Houthi attack expands the geographical reach of their assaults. The last recorded attack on a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden, prior to the Minervagracht incident, occurred in August 2024.
Their campaign has severely disrupted shipping in the Red Sea, a critical maritime route through which approximately $1 trillion worth of goods passed annually before the conflict. The Houthis had ceased attacks on shipping and Israel during a brief ceasefire but later became the focus of a weekslong campaign of airstrikes ordered by former US President Donald Trump, who subsequently declared a ceasefire had been reached with the rebels.
Houthi attacks against shipping have resulted in the deaths of at least eight mariners and the sinking of four ships.
Additionally, on Wednesday, the Houthis announced sanctions against multiple American oil companies, including Chevron Corp, ConocoPhillips, and Exxon Mobil Corp., as well as individuals and two ships. The group has previously issued similar designations before launching attacks.
*This story is sourced from third-party syndicated feeds and agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for the dependability, trustworthiness, reliability, or accuracy of the content. Mid-day management and mid-day.com reserve the sole right to alter, delete, or remove content at their absolute discretion without prior notice.*
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/yemens-houthi-rebels-claim-missile-attack-on-dutch-flagged-ship-in-gulf-of-aden-23596824
