Indian Navy officials say they have provided assistance to 22 people aboard a ship that was attacked by drones in the waters off Yemen. No casualties have been reported.

The officials say that the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel sent out a distress call late on Wednesday evening. The US-owned craft was sailing in the Gulf of Aden.

An Indian warship in the region was sent to help the crew. The authorities note a fire that broke out after the attack was later brought under control. The vessel was determined to be fit for further service.

Yemen's Houthi rebels say that they struck the ship with missiles. The militants have been targeting merchant vessels in the Red Sea and surrounding waters. They say that they are doing so to support the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas, which is fighting against Israel in Gaza.

The incident on Wednesday occurred in an area that is regarded as a key commercial sea lane between Asia and Europe. India is not part of the US-led multinational coalition protecting traffic there. But it has deployed several warships to the region.

Last month, New Delhi responded after a separate drone attack was carried out.