A commercial tanker was attacked late Monday by a "cruise" missile launched from a Yemeni area controlled by the "Houthis" near the Bab al-Mandab, causing damage and a fire on the ship, according to two US defense officials speaking to Reuters.

The US Central Command "CENTCOM" announced on Tuesday that a cruise missile attack, anti-ship, launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen targeted the oil tanker "Strinda," which flies the Norwegian flag, in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The command also said in a statement via the "X" platform that the tanker reported damage and a fire onboard without any casualties.

It added: "There were no US ships nearby at the time of the attack, but the destroyer (Mason) responded to a distress call from the tanker and provided assistance."

Earlier, the British Maritime Trade Office announced receiving a report from an entity identifying itself as the "Yemeni Navy," ordering a ship near the Bab al-Mandab Strait to change its course to a Yemeni port, noting that it was attacked and caught fire.

The British Navy's Trade Office mentioned on the "X" platform that it received a report about "an entity declaring itself the Yemeni Navy, ordering a ship to change course to a Yemeni port," calling on "all ships in the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity."

The office also indicated in an earlier post that "an attack targeted a ship near Bab al-Mandab off the coast of Yemen, and that it caught fire," adding that "authorities are investigating the attack that took place in the Red Sea, and that all crew members are safe."

One US official told Reuters that the attack on the transport ship "Strinda" occurred about 60 nautical miles north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The two officials also said that the US Navy destroyer "Mason" is at the scene providing assistance, and no injuries have been reported.

It was not immediately clear whether "Strinda" has any connections with Israel or whether it was headed to an Israeli port, as the Houthis had earlier announced targeting all ships linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports during their passage off the coast of Yemen, in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, ongoing since last October 7.

The "Tanker Trackers" website on the "X" platform said, "We believe the ship ordered to change course to a Yemeni port is an oil tanker loaded with goods sailing northward."