Smoke rises after a missile attack on Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. (File photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Sarea said the group launched two drones and a cruise missile at the container ship MSC Aby in the northern Red Sea, accusing the vessel of maintaining trade links with Israeli ports.

The attacks came a day after the Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack near the oil tanker Scarlet Ray in the northern Red Sea.

The escalation follows an Israeli airstrike on Thursday in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa which killed Ahmed al-Rahawi, the Houthi-appointed prime minister, and at least 12 other Houthi ministers.