Houthi strike kills crew member on Dutch cargo ship
Houthi rebels struck the Amsterdam‑operated cargo vessel Minervagracht in the Gulf of Aden, igniting a fire that forced the helicopter evacuation of 19 crew members and left a Filipino crewman dead. The Iran‑backed group claimed responsibility, saying the ship violated an entry ban related to ports of 'occupied Palestine'; the attack is the latest escalation against international shipping and comes as the Houthis test a U.S. ceasefire and detain U.N. aid workers in Yemen.
International
Military
Maritime
📌 Key Facts
- The vessel Minervagracht (operated by Dutch firm Spliethoff) was struck in international waters in the Gulf of Aden.
- 19 crew members from Russia, Ukraine, the Philippines and Sri Lanka were evacuated by helicopter; a Filipino crew member later died of injuries.
- Houthis claimed responsibility and alleged the ship violated a ban; the incident coincides with recent Houthi detentions of U.N. staff (10 detained this week; 54 detained since 2021) and raises questions about adherence to a U.S.‑brokered ceasefire.