Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked a Dutch cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday. The group justified striking the MV Minervagracht by claiming the owner company violated their ban on entering Palestinian ports. Two crew members sustained injuries when the projectile hit the ship and caused a fire. The same vessel faced an earlier assault on September 23 while traveling to Djibouti.
The Houthis control much of Yemen and frame their maritime operations as backing Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. They have fired missiles and drones at Israeli targets repeatedly. Israeli forces retaliated with airstrikes on Thursday that killed nine people in Sanaa after a Houthi drone targeted southern Israel. The escalation occurs as President Donald Trump advances his Gaza peace plan while Washington restores UN sanctions against Iran.
The Houthis control much of Yemen and frame their maritime operations as backing Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. They have fired missiles and drones at Israeli targets repeatedly. Israeli forces retaliated with airstrikes on Thursday that killed nine people in Sanaa after a Houthi drone targeted southern Israel. The escalation occurs as President Donald Trump advances his Gaza peace plan while Washington restores UN sanctions against Iran.
