The source told Associated Press that the attack was made on Tuesday night.
The tanker is reported to be ultimately owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer.
The Associated Press also cited a defense official as saying that a Liberian-flagged oil tanker was struck in an exploding drone attack off the Gulf of Oman.
Meanwhile, Reuters quoted Commander Timothy Hawkins as saying that United States Navy's Fifth Fleet is aware of an incident in the Gulf of Oman involving a commercial vessel.
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