NEW DELHI — Three Indian seafarers remained missing on Wednesday after a U.S. military strike disabled a tanker in the Gulf of Oman, according to Indian officials.
The U.S. Central Command said it fired precision munitions into the engine room of the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions. The vessel was carrying oil from Iran in violation of a U.S. naval blockade, CENTCOM stated.
Of the 24 Indian crew members aboard, 21 were rescued by Omani authorities following the incident on Tuesday, India's foreign ministry said. A search operation continued for the three missing seafarers.
India summoned a senior U.S. diplomat in New Delhi to lodge a strong protest over the strike on the commercial vessel. The foreign ministry condemned attacks on civilian shipping and called for de-escalation in the region amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions.
The Indian embassy in Oman coordinated with local authorities for the rescue of the crew members. Details on the identities or conditions of the missing seafarers were not immediately released by officials.
The strike marked the second such incident in recent days involving Indian crew members. Earlier, U.S. forces disabled the tanker Marivex, also carrying 24 Indian seafarers, but all were rescued safely after that operation.
U.S. officials have described the actions as part of enforcement of a blockade aimed at restricting Iranian oil exports. The Settebello was reportedly sailing from China toward the UAE before the incident near Oman's coast.
Omani authorities assisted in the rescue efforts, with naval helicopters involved in evacuating crew from the disabled vessel. No immediate comment was available from the tanker operator or Iranian officials.
The incident has heightened concerns over maritime security in the Gulf of Oman, a key route for global oil shipments. India, which has a large number of seafarers working on international vessels, emphasized the safety of its nationals.
As of Wednesday, search operations were ongoing. The U.S. has not released further details on the strike's outcome beyond confirming the action, while Indian authorities continued to monitor developments closely.
