The Houthis on Sunday attacked the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas with drones, missiles, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire, forcing its crew of 22 to abandon the vessel loaded with fertilizer and steel billets for Turkey.

The Houthis launched back-to-back attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea over the past few days.One attack caused a ship to sink, while the other killed and injured several crew members.The incidents follow a period of relative calm and risk drawing in US forces again.

Israel on Monday struck Houthi-held parts of Yemen for the first time since the end of its 12-day war with Iran.