US strikes Iran-bound tanker near Oman, sparking India protest over missing crew
India said 21 of 24 crew members were rescued and three remained missing after the U.S. strike on the tanker.
- On Wednesday, U.S. Central Command disabled the Palau-flagged oil tanker Settebello off the coast of Oman, leaving three Indian crew members missing while 21 of the 24 aboard were rescued.
- U.S. forces disabled the vessel after accusing it of violating an American naval blockade by "attempting to transport oil from Iran," an enforcement effort active since April 13, 2026.
- CENTCOM fired "precision munitions" into the engine room after the crew failed to comply with directions; India summoned U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Jason Meeks to lodge a "strong protest."
- Condemning the strike as "deeply worrisome," the Indian External Affairs Ministry confirmed the Indian Embassy in Oman is coordinating ongoing search and rescue efforts for the missing sailors.
- Attacks on shipping have escalated in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy corridor, with this incident occurring two days after the June 8 attack on the tanker Marivex, where 24 Indian sailors were rescued.
166 Articles
166 Articles
India protests over US strike on ship
New Delhi lodged a diplomatic protest with Washington after three Indian sailors were killed in a US military strike on a tanker in the Gulf of Oman. Two other ships attacked by the US in the Gulf this week had Indian crew members on board — India supplies around 12% of the global merchant shipping workforce. “They are ordinary people, not trained for war,” an Indian maritime union leader told The New York Times, urging the government to “ask to…
The U.S. military on Thursday targeted an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel violated a U.S. blockade of Iran by attempting to transport Iranian oil, according to the Central Command (CENTCOM). It is the third merchant ship the U.S. has taken down in the Gulf of Oman this week.
Indian Foreign Ministry summoned US Chargé d'affaires “onto the carpet” Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonoval announced the death of three Indian sailors after the US hit the Settebello tanker in the Gulf of Oman. New Delhi has officially protested to Washington. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to a publication by the US Central Command. The US attacked a tanker in the Gulf of Oman The US military attacked the Settebello oi…
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