Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The European Union (EU) on Thursday expressed its strong condemnation of the attack launched by the Houthi group against the commercial vessel “MV Minervagracht,” which sails under the Dutch flag, while it was transiting the Gulf of Aden on Monday, September 29.
In an official statement, the EU clarified that the assault posed a direct threat to the lives of the ship’s crew, forcing them to abandon the vessel with the assistance of naval units belonging to Operation ASPIDES, which is tasked with protecting freedom of navigation in the region.
The statement affirmed that such acts constitute a clear violation of international law and pose a serious threat to regional stability and security, in addition to their negative impact on global trade and freedom of maritime passage.
The EU also warned that these attacks deepen the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and obstruct efforts to reach a peaceful settlement.
The EU stressed the importance of full commitment to Security Council Resolution 2768, issued in 2025.
The Houthi group had claimed responsibility on Tuesday for targeting the ship with a cruise missile, which caused a fire to erupt onboard and put it at risk of sinking.
In response, the EU Naval Mission in the Red Sea (ASPIDES) and the Dutch operating company of the vessel, Spliethoff, confirmed that the explosion resulted in injuries to two crew members, while the remaining 19 sailors were evacuated to safety by helicopter. The fire reportedly continues to burn onboard the carrier off the coast of Djibouti.
