The attack on the Greek-owned Eternity C follows the Iranian-backed Houthis attacking another vessel on Sunday in the Red Sea that they said subsequently sank.

A Liberian-flagged cargo ship came under fire on Monday in the Red Sea, with two security guards on board reportedly hurt and two others missing in an assault that came after Yemen's Houthi rebels purportedly sunk another vessel in a similar attack.

Two Liberian-flagged ship attacks and a round of Israeli airstrikes early Monday targeting Houthi rebels raised fears of a renewed Houthi campaign against shipping.