Houthi rebels attacked a Maersk container vessel, prompting the company to pause all sailing through the Red Sea for 48 hours, Maersk said, according to Reuters.

The attack was the latest by Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been targeting vessels in The Red Sea to show their support for Hamas fighting Israel in Gaza.

US Navy helicopters sank three of four small boats used by the Houthis to attack the Maersk Hangzhou vessel in the southern Red Sea late on Saturday, the US military said.