3 Indian sailors, missing after US strike on tanker off Oman, confirmed dead

Three Indian sailors who went missing after a US military strike on the tanker Settebello in the Gulf of Oman have died, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.

In Short

• US conducted precision strike on tanker carrying Iranian oil
• US Central Command targeted tanker for non-compliance with orders
• India summoned US deputy chief of mission to protest attack

Three Indian seafarers who had gone missing after a US military strike on a tanker in the Gulf of Oman have died, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday.

The sailors went missing following the strike carried out by the United States military on the tanker off Oman.

According to the US, its military conducted a "precision" strike on the vessel after it failed to follow instructions. The US also said the tanker was carrying oil from Iran.

INDIA LODGED STRONG PROTEST

Meanwhile, after the deadly strike, New Delhi summoned the US deputy chief of mission and lodged a "strong protest" over the strike.

Nagaraj Naidu, Additional Secretary (Americas) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), summoned Jason Meeks, Charg d’Affaires of the United States, following the strike on the tanker Settebello.

Following the incident, India strongly condemned the attack and expressed concern over the safety of Indian nationals on board the vessel. In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman, earlier today."

The ministry stated that 24 Indian crew members were on board the ship at the time of the strike. It said 21 Indians had been rescued.

US CONFIRMED STRIKE ON SETTEBELLO

The United States said its military carried out a "precision" strike on the vessel after it allegedly failed to follow instructions from American forces. The US also said the tanker was carrying oil from Iran.

The US Central Command later confirmed that it targeted the Settebello at 11:14 pm on June 9 as part of its ongoing maritime blockade against Iran.

According to the statement, "US Central Command disabled Palau-flagged M/T Settebello as it transited the Gulf of Oman." It added that "a US aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship's engine room" after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with instructions issued by American forces.

- Ends