A missile launched by Ansar Allah in Yemen struck a Dutch-flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden, causing injuries to the crew and damage to the ship.
The ship’s operator, Spliethoff, confirmed the attack on the Minervagracht. “Earlier today, it’s general cargo vessel Minervagracht, that was on passage in the Gulf of Aden, in international waters, has come under attack of an unidentified explosive device, inflicting substantial damage to the ship,” the statement explained.
The 19 crew members on the ship were executed by helicopter. Two people were injured by the attack.
After the strike, the vessel caught fire, and Spliethoff said a warship was deployed to assist the Minervagracht.
While Ansar Allah did not confirm they were behind the attack, the Minevagracht was attacked by a missile fired from Yemen last week that missed the ship.
Ansar Allah, the group that has ruled most populated areas of Yemen since 2015, has imposed a blockade of Israeli-linked shipping through the Red Sea in response to the genocide in Gaza. Ansar Allah has significantly reduced the flow of shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Additionally, Ansar Allah has damaged, captured, and sunk multiple ships attempting to break the blockade.
The conflict between Yemen and Israel has escalated recently. Israel has bombarded Yemen, hitting civilian targets. In one slaughter, an Israeli bomb struck media offices, killing dozens of journalists.
Ansar Allah has fired missiles and drones directly into Israel. Last week, a Yemeni drone injured 22 people at a hotel in southern Israel.
