The attack on the Greek-owned bulk carrier Eternity C in the crucial maritime route came after the Houthis attacked a similar ship called Magic Seas.

The attack on the Magic Seas, a dry bulk carrier owned by Greece’s Stem Shipping, was the first on a commercial vessel since December by the group, which is backed by Iran. It was followed almost immediately by Israeli strikes on a number of Houthi-held ports in Yemen.

Israel struck Houthi targets at three Yemeni ports and a power plant overnight, in the country’s first attack on Yemen since the Israel-Iran ceasefire.