A Dutch cargo ship sailing through the Gulf of Aden came under missile fire on Monday, in what Western officials attributed to Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The attack, which set the vessel ablaze and injured two crew members, underscores the widening scope of maritime threats in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

The vessel, the Minervagracht , was struck while transiting international waters between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa. Nineteen seafarers abandoned ship after the impact. The Amsterdam-based operator, Spliethoff, confirmed that a fire broke out on board and that two mariners sustained injuries during the incident. “Following the attack, Minervagracht is suffering from a fire. As a result, two of the crew … have sustained injuries,” the company said.

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