This attack is the most serious in the Gulf of Aden, far from the Red Sea, where the Houthis sank two ships in July.
Although the Houthis have not claimed responsibility for targeting the Minervagracht, they have threatened to attack ships as part of their campaign linked to the war in Gaza, particularly as Israel intensifies its ground assault on Gaza City.
This comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East after the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
The same ship had been the target of a failed attack on September 23 in the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea through the Bab al-Mandab Strait separating East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. However, in Monday's attack, a missile fired from Yemen struck the Minervagracht, according to witnesses.
The ship's owner, Splitthoff, said the strike caused "extensive damage" to the vessel. Nineteen crew members were evacuated by helicopter, including two injured.
The European naval force operating in the area, known as Operation Aspedis, announced early Tuesday morning that the ship was "on fire and drifting" after its crew was rescued.
She added that the crew includes sailors from the Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine. One of the injured is in stable condition, while the other is in critical condition and has been airlifted to Djibouti for treatment.
The French military's Maritime Information Cooperation and Awareness Center confirmed that the Houthis were behind the attack.
The Houthi group attacks Israel with missiles and drones, targeting ships linked to or heading toward it. It claims its attacks are in response to Israel's ongoing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving 66,055 martyrs and 168,346 wounded, most of them children and women, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 442 Palestinians, including 147 children.
