(Reuters) - NBC News on Thursday quoted three American officials as saying that the United States recently launched a cyberattack on an Iranian military ship in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden that was collecting intelligence information about cargo ships.

The network's report said that the electronic attack occurred a week ago as part of the government's response to a drone attack carried out by factions in Iraq supported by Iran, which resulted in the killing of three American soldiers in Jordan and the injury of dozens of people late last month.

The television network said that the operation aimed to disrupt the ship's ability to transmit intelligence information to the Houthis in Yemen.