The US military launched new strikes in Yemen on Tuesday, targeting anti-ship ballistic missiles in a part of the country controlled by Houthi rebels. 

Reuters reported that the strikes come after a Greek-owned vessel in the Red Sea fell victim to a missile strike carried out by the Iranian-backed group. The White House said the additional strikes on Tuesday took out  four anti-ship ballistic missiles Houthi militants were supposed to launch.

According to White House spokesperson John Kirby, the administration "is not looking to expand this," adding that the Houthis "still have time to make the right choice, which is to stop these reckless attacks."

Houthi Rebels in Yemen Attack a Greek-Owned Cargo Ship in Red Sea 

Citing a security firm and two Greek shipping ministry sources, Reuters reported that a missile hit the Malta-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier, the Zografia, while northbound in the Red Sea 76 nautical miles northwest of the Yemeni port of Saleef.

General Yahya Sarea, the military spokesman for Yemen's Houthi rebels, admitted that the group carried out the attack on the cargo ship on Tuesday using naval missiles that resulted in a "direct hit."

A Greek source told Reuters that the Zografia, sailing from Vietnam to Israel with 24 crew on board, was emptied when attacked. Thus, the source noted that there were no injuries, "only material damage."

The Zografia was reportedly still sailing but would likely reroute for safety checks. On Monday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the US-owned and operated container ship M/V Gibraltar Eagle was struck in Yemeni waters by a missile launched by Houthi rebels.

Luckily, CENTCOM noted that the vessel did not incur significant damage and continued its journey. Houthi rebels started attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea after the Israel-Hamas war began in October, which affected companies and alarmed major world powers.

The Houthis said these attacks are being carried out to show support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas in its fight against Israel. The group even threatened to expand attacks to include US ships in response to American and British strikes on their sites in Yemen last week.

READ ALSO: Oil Prices Surge After US, Britain Strike Back at Houthi Rebels in Yemen 

US to Designate the Houthis as Terrorists

According to CNN, the Biden administration plans to put Houthi rebels back on a US list of terrorist organizations to cut off their funding and supply of weapons.

In 2021, the Biden administration had taken the Houthi rebels off two lists that designated them as terrorists, reversing a decision by the Trump administration.

The latest move by the Biden administration would only put the Houthis back on one of the two lists, marking the group as a specially designated global terrorist (SDGT) entity but not as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).

According to the US State Department, the SDGT and FTO designations set off an asset freeze, but only an FTO designation enforces immigration restrictions on members. The department noted that the SDGT designation also does not implement sanctions on those providing "material support" to the group.

READ MORE: Oil Prices Surge Over 3% Amid US Warning of Houthi Militants in the Red Sea