VOI World/ Desk
India summoned the senior-most US diplomat in New Delhi after a commercial vessel carrying Indian crew members was struck off the coast of Oman, leaving three Indians missing.
The Ministry of External Affairs lodged a strong protest with US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks after the attack on the Palau-flagged vessel Settebello. According to Indian authorities, 24 Indian crew members were on board at the time of the incident. While 21 sailors were rescued, three remain unaccounted for.
India condemned the attack and said the safety of civilian seafarers must be protected. The government also stressed that commercial shipping and international navigation should not be targeted amid ongoing tensions in West Asia.
The Indian Embassy in Oman is coordinating with local authorities as search and rescue operations continue for the missing crew members.
Reports indicate that the vessel was targeted by US forces enforcing restrictions linked to the ongoing confrontation involving Iran. The strike comes just days after another vessel carrying Indian sailors was reportedly attacked in the region, raising concerns about the safety of Indian maritime workers operating near the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz.
The US State Department has said it is in direct contact with the Government of India regarding the incident. Search efforts for the three missing Indian sailors remain underway.
