Yemen’s Houthi rebels early on Wednesday claimed the attack that left a Dutch-flagged cargo ship ablaze and adrift in the Gulf of Aden, underlining the range of their weaponry and their campaign targeting shipping over the war between Israel and Hamas.
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The attack on Monday on the Minervagracht was the most serious assault by the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Gulf of Aden, some distance from the Red Sea where they have sunk four vessels since November 2023.
The attack also comes as Israel engages in a new ground offensive targeting Gaza City as efforts to reach a ceasefire again hang in the balance. Meanwhile, the Mideast also remained on edge after the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.
The Houthis fired a cruise missile that targeted and struck the Minervagracht, Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said.
Saree accused the ship’s owners, Amsterdam-based Spliethoff, of violating “the entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine”.
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Initially, the US Navy-overseen Joint Maritime Information Centre said the Minervagracht had no ties to Israel, but a note Tuesday said the centre was “reviewing vessel affiliations for possible links to Israel”.