Israel has launched a new ground offensive targeting Gaza City, as efforts to reach a ceasefire once again hang in the balance. Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East remain high following the United Nations’ decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.

Separately, the Houthi rebels have threatened to “employ all means and instruments available” to target several American oil firms. Recently, the Houthis fired a cruise missile that struck the Minervagracht, a cargo ship, 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, a note released on Tuesday said the centre was “reviewing vessel affiliations for possible links to Israel.”

The attack wounded two mariners aboard the Minervagracht, which has a 19-member crew from the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine. The crew was forced to evacuate the ship after the strike caused substantial damage. Spliethoff confirmed on Wednesday that it was working with international authorities and salvage experts to secure and safeguard the vessel.

A European naval force operating in the region, known as Operation Aspides, reported on Tuesday that the Minervagracht was on fire and adrift following the crew’s rescue. 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 would pursue European Union sanctions against the Houthis in response to the attack. “The Houthis long have posed a serious threat to the freedom of navigation,” the ministry said. “This is unacceptable.”

Over the past two years, the Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks on more than 100 ships and on Israel, claiming they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians amid the war in Gaza. However, some of the group’s targets have had tenuous or no connections to Israel.

This recent Houthi attack expands the rebels’ operational range, with the previous recorded attack on a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden occurring in August 2024. Their ongoing attacks have severely disrupted shipping in the Red Sea, a critical trade route through which about $1 trillion worth of goods passed annually before the war.

The Houthis had ceased their attacks on shipping and Israel during a brief ceasefire in the conflict, which was followed by an intense, weeks-long campaign of airstrikes ordered by US President Donald Trump. Trump later declared that a ceasefire had been achieved with the rebels.

The Houthi campaign against shipping has resulted in at least eight mariner deaths and the sinking of four ships.

Additionally, on Wednesday, the Houthis announced sanctions against several American oil companies—including Chevron Corp, ConocoPhillips, and Exxon Mobil Corp.—as well as certain individuals and two ships. The group has a history of issuing such designations prior to launching attacks.

*This story has been sourced from a third-party syndicated feed and agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for the dependability, trustworthiness, reliability, or data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete, or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.*
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/yemens-houthi-rebels-claim-missile-attack-on-dutch-flagged-ship-in-gulf-of-aden-23596824