Yemen's Houthi rebels killed 3 mariners with an attack on a ship in the Red Sea, a European naval force says, fueling concern over a possible new wave of attacks by the Iran-backed group.

An attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea killed three mariners and wounded two others, a European Union naval force said Tuesday, highlighting the danger of the group's renewed campaign targeting a key maritime route for international trade.

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.