Three Indian Sailors Confirmed Dead Following US Military Strike on Tanker in Gulf of Oman/Image@ BBC
In a tragic turn of events, three Indian sailors reported missing have been confirmed dead after a US military operation targeted the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello in the Gulf of Oman.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, has raised serious concerns regarding maritime safety and international relations.
India’s Shipping Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, expressed his condolences on social media platform X, labeling the situation as “deeply unfortunate.”
He assured that efforts are underway to repatriate the bodies of the deceased sailors.
Out of the 24 Indian crew members aboard the vessel, 21 were rescued following the attack.
The US military claimed that the Settebello failed to comply with directives from American forces and accused it of breaching a blockade aimed at preventing oil transport from Iran.
In a statement, US Central Command reported that precision munitions were deployed to the tanker’s engine room after the crew allegedly disregarded multiple warnings.
This incident marks the second attack on a vessel with an Indian crew in just a few days.
Earlier in the week, US forces targeted another Palau-flagged oil tanker, The Marivex, also for failing to follow US instructions.
Fortunately, all crew members were rescued by the Omani military.
On Thursday, the Indian Embassy in Oman reported another unspecified incident involving a vessel near Shinas port but did not confirm whether Indian nationals were involved or provide details about the nature of the event.
The US military has enforced a blockade on Iran’s ports since April 13, following Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for approximately 20% of global oil and gas shipments amidst ongoing regional tensions.
According to Central Command, US forces have neutralized eight vessels and redirected 134 others during this operation.
The Indian government has issued a strong statement condemning attacks on commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region, calling for an end to such actions.
Manoj Yadav, General Secretary of the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), stated that they have begun contacting families of the deceased sailors to convey the sad news.
He expressed skepticism regarding the US’s claims of ignorance about the nationalities of those aboard the affected vessels, suggesting that detaining non-compliant ships could have been a more appropriate response.
As tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate, both nations have engaged in reciprocal strikes for two consecutive days, jeopardizing a fragile ceasefire established in April.
President Donald Trump recently threatened to take decisive action against Iran, criticizing delays in reaching a peace agreement and accusing Tehran of manipulating American interests.
The conflict began on February 28 when US and Israeli forces launched strikes against Iran, resulting in the death of the country’s supreme leader.
In retaliation, Iran initiated attacks on Israel and US-aligned nations in the Gulf, leading to rapid escalation across the region, including involvement from Lebanon in March.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong