NEW DELHI — India lodged a strong protest with the United States after three Indian mariners were killed in a U.S. military strike on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.
The deaths occurred when U.S. forces struck the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello, which Washington accused of violating a blockade on Iranian oil shipments. Twenty-one other Indian crew members were rescued by Omani authorities, according to Indian officials.
The incident marked the first reported fatalities among merchant seafarers since the United States began enforcing the blockade in April. It was one of at least three U.S. strikes this week on vessels with Indian crew in the region.
India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government summoned a senior U.S. diplomat to register the protest. "These attacks must cease and end," Jaiswal told reporters.
The shipping minister confirmed the deaths of the three mariners, who were part of the 24 Indian crew on board the Settebello. Omani authorities assisted in rescue operations following distress calls from the vessel.
U.S. Central Command has stated that the strikes targeted ships attempting to transport Iranian oil in violation of the blockade imposed amid heightened tensions in the region. The operation follows Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and related conflicts.
India, one of the world's largest suppliers of seafarers, has thousands of its nationals working on commercial vessels in the area. The government said it was coordinating with Omani authorities and monitoring the situation closely.
Earlier this week, two other tankers with Indian crew — the Marivex and Jalveer — were also struck by U.S. forces. Crew members from those vessels were rescued without reported fatalities.
The Indian government has called for the protection of civilian shipping and seafarers. Opposition figures in India have questioned the implications for the country's nationals working in international waters.
As of Thursday, the U.S. military continued operations to enforce the blockade. India has urged all parties to avoid attacks on merchant vessels. Details on the recovery of the deceased mariners' bodies and further diplomatic exchanges remained ongoing.
The Ministry of External Affairs said it was providing assistance to the families of the victims. Further information on the exact circumstances of the strike on the Settebello was under review by Indian authorities.
