Daijiworld Media Network – Gulf of Aden

Gulf of Aden, Oct 1: Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a deadly missile strike that left a Dutch-flagged cargo vessel ablaze and adrift in the Gulf of Aden, further escalating tensions in the region.

The attack took place on Monday when the Minervagracht, operated by Amsterdam-based Spliethoff, was hit by a cruise missile fired by the Iran-backed Houthis. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree alleged the ship had violated a ban on entering “ports of occupied Palestine.”

The U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center initially stated that the ship had no links to Israel but later said it was reviewing possible affiliations. The strike severely damaged the vessel, forcing its 19-member crew — comprising nationals from the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine — to abandon ship. Two mariners sustained injuries during the attack.

A European naval task force, Operation Aspides, confirmed that the vessel was burning and adrift after the evacuation.

This marks the Houthis’ most serious assault in the Gulf of Aden to date, extending their reach beyond the Red Sea, where they have sunk four vessels since November 2023. The last reported attack on a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden occurred in August 2024.

The rebels have launched more than 100 drone and missile attacks on international shipping and Israel, claiming solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza war. However, many targeted vessels have had little or no connection to Israel.

The Houthis’ maritime campaign has so far killed at least eight sailors, sunk four ships, and disrupted global trade routes. Before the conflict, nearly $1 trillion worth of goods passed through the Red Sea annually.

The strike comes as Israel intensifies its ground operations in Gaza, ceasefire talks remain deadlocked, and the UN reinstates sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program — leaving the wider Middle East on edge.