Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, raising fears of renewed conflict in the vital shipping corridor

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.