Helicopter rescues crew of Dutch cargo ship attacked off the Yemeni coast
The Gulf of Aden witnessed a dramatic rescue operation on Monday after the Dutch-flagged cargo ship Minervagracht was attacked near the Yemeni coast. All 19 crew members were evacuated by helicopter, and two sailors were injured during the incident. One of them, in serious condition, was taken to Djibouti for urgent medical treatment, while the other was reported to be in stable condition, according to the European Union naval mission Aspides.
The ship, owned by the Dutch shipping company Spliethoff, was carrying an international crew of Russians, Ukrainians, Filipinos, and Sri Lankans. The company confirmed that there were no Dutch nationals on board. On Tuesday morning, the company announced that all crew members had been safely evacuated.
The Minervagracht suffered severe damage due to the attack, as an explosion destroyed parts of the ship, leaving it on fire and drifting in the waters of the Gulf of Aden. Both Spliethoff and Aspides confirmed that the ship is still burning on Tuesday morning.
The attack occurred in one of the most dangerous maritime areas in the world. The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have been a theater for piracy and armed assaults for years, with Yemeni rebel groups operating alongside former Somali pirates.
Despite no party claiming responsibility so far, suspicions are directed towards the Houthi movement in Yemen. The movement has repeatedly targeted international trade routes and carried out attacks against Israel under the pretext of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Investigations are still ongoing to determine the party responsible for Monday's attack.