US strike on tanker MT Settebello near Oman kills 3 Indian sailors; India lodges strong protest
US strike on tanker near Oman: Three Indian sailors who went missing after a US military strike on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman have been confirmed dead, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday. The sailors were among the crew members aboard the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello when it was hit earlier this week.
The vessel had 24 Indian crew members on board. Following the attack, Omani authorities rescued 21 Indians, while three sailors were reported missing. A search operation was launched immediately, but authorities later confirmed that all three had lost their lives.
The incident has sparked a diplomatic row between India and the United States. New Delhi summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks and lodged a strong protest over the strike. Senior MEA official Nagaraj Naidu conveyed India's concerns and sought an explanation regarding the attack.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attack and expressed concern over the safety of Indian nationals working in the region. The ministry said attacks on commercial vessels threaten international shipping and the lives of civilian seafarers.
The United States has said that its military carried out a “precision strike” on the tanker after it allegedly failed to respond to repeated instructions from American forces. According to the US Central Command, the ship was transporting Iranian oil and was targeted as part of ongoing maritime operations linked to sanctions enforcement. The strike reportedly hit the vessel’s engine room and disabled the tanker.
The deaths of the three Indian sailors have raised fresh concerns about the safety of merchant ships operating in the Gulf region, where tensions remain high due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States.
- With inputs from agencies
