Yemen's interim government says a cargo ship that had been attacked by the Houthi rebel group has sunk.

Local media and others say it is the first case of a vessel sinking after being hit by the Houthis. They say the ship had been struck by missiles last month in the Gulf of Aden, which is connected to the Red Sea.

The media report that the ship was Belize-flagged and carrying fertilizer when it was hit. They say all crew had evacuated to safety, but oil is leaking from the vessel into the ocean. The interim government says Houthi's attacks are leading to environmental contamination.

The Iran-backed Houthis claim solidarity with Hamas in Gaza, and have repeatedly struck vessels in and around the Red Sea since last November.

The area is a vital shipping lane and the attacks are forcing the rerouting of many ships, disrupting global supply chains.