Israeli security sources suggested that Iran was likely behind what they said was an attack on a ship partly owned by an Israeli businessman in the northern Indian Ocean on Saturday morning.

According to what was reported by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the attack resulted in minor damage, and the ship was not flying the Israeli flag and there were no Israeli sailors on board.

While the Israeli Channel 12, quoting unnamed sources within the Israeli military establishment, said that the ship's crew was not harmed and that the ship - which may have been hit by a missile - was not seriously damaged, and continued its journey after the accident.

Reuters quoted Israeli media as saying that the ship was on its way from Jeddah to the UAE.

There was no official comment from Iran regarding what the Israeli media reported about the targeting of the ship.

During the past months, Iran and Israel exchanged accusations of being responsible for targeting commercial cargo ships and oil tankers in the Gulf region and the Indian Ocean.