The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs have called on the European Union (EU) to classify the Houthi rebels as a terrorist organization, following an attack that targeted the Dutch cargo ship MV MINERVAGRACHT in the Gulf of Aden. The attack injured two sailors and led to the full evacuation of the 19-person crew.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Houthis have long posed a “serious threat to freedom of navigation,” demanding their inclusion on the European terrorism list, which could result in economic sanctions and the freezing of funds and assets.
The Houthis had announced they targeted the ship with a cruise missile, justifying it by claiming the owning company violated their decision to ban ships from entering “ports of occupied Palestine.” The attack caused severe damage to the vessel and ignited a fire on board.
A potential EU decision to add the group to its terrorism list, which currently includes 13 individuals and 22 groups and entities.
The EU Naval Mission in the Red Sea (Operation Aspides) and the ship’s operating company stated that the attack resulted in injuries to two sailors and necessitated the helicopter evacuation of all 19 crew members.
Spliethoff, the Amsterdam-based company operating the vessel, said the MINERVAGRACHT cargo ship was sailing in international waters in the Gulf of Aden at the time of the attack.
This was the Houthis’ first attack on a commercial ship since September 1, when they targeted the Israeli-owned oil tanker “Scarlet Ray” near the Saudi port of Yanbu on the Red Sea.
In July, the Houthis attacked and sank the cargo carrier “Magic Seas” as well as the cargo ship “Eternity C” in the Red Sea.
The last major Houthi attack in the Gulf of Aden was on the Singapore-flagged container ship “Lubeffia” in July 2024.