The US Defense Department says a Japanese-owned chemical tanker was struck on Saturday in the Indian Ocean by a drone launched from Iran.

A Pentagon spokesperson said the attack took place about 370 kilometers off the coast of India, and the Liberia-flagged ship was operated by a Dutch company. The official added there were no casualties, and a fire on board was extinguished.

Reuters and other media quoted a British maritime security firm as saying the tanker is affiliated with Israel and was on its way from Saudi Arabia to India.

In November, a cargo ship linked to an Israeli billionaire was reportedly hit by a suspected Iranian drone attack in the same waters.

Yemen's anti-government Houthi group has repeatedly targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea, which connects with the Indian Ocean.

The US Central Command said the Houthis fired two anti-ship missiles into the Red Sea on Saturday. It also said the US military shot down four drones, and received reports from two ships that they were under attack.