Sailor killed as India-flagged cargo ship comes under attack near Oman

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said India-flagged MSV Al Jusufi was struck by an "unidentified aerial object" on Monday while navigating waters near the Omani coastline. The sailor who died was a resident of Gujarat.

In Short

• Minister says MSV Al Jusufi hit by unidentified aerial object on Monday
• Omani Coast Guard rescues 13 crew members of struck cargo vessel
• 22 Indians killed in US-Iran war since February, 14 of them seafarers

An Indian sailor was killed after an India-flagged cargo vessel came under attack off the coast of Oman. The ship, carrying 14 Indian seafarers, was struck by an unidentified aerial object while navigating near the Omani coast, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.

The vessel, identified as MSV Al Jusufi, was struck on Monday, the minister said. Thirteen crew members safely evacuated and were rescued by the Omani Coast Guard. However, one sailor, identified as Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat, succumbed to his injuries.

In a post on X, Sonowal said he was "deeply saddened" by the death and extended his condolences to the sailor's family.

"The Ministry and Indian Embassy in Oman are in contact with local authorities to ensure immediate assistance for the 13 survivors and facilitate the swift repatriation of both the surviving crew and mortal remains of our deceased seafarer," he said.

Attacks on Indian-flagged vessels remain relatively rare despite the US-Iran war and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. However, hostilities across key shipping corridors surrounding the Gulf region have taken a heavy toll on Indian mariners.

According to government figures released last week, at least 22 Indian nationals have been killed since the US and Israel attacked Iran in February this year. Of these, 14 were seafarers.

Indian sailors on commercial vessels have been caught in missile and drone attacks by Iran and the US as the Strait of Hormuz became a major frontier in the Middle East conflict. In light of the high number of casualties, India banned the deployment of its citizens on any ship navigating Hormuz.

Merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea have increasingly found themselves in the crosshairs of opposing militaries. Though targeting commercial shipping violates international law, strikes launched by both American and Iranian forces have precipitated one of the most severe maritime shipping crises in recent history.

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