The US military attacked an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. Three Indian sailors are reported missing
The US military confirmed in a post on X that it damaged an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after it violated the US blockade of Iranian ports “trying to transport oil from Iran”. In response, India summoned an American diplomat from New Delhi to submit a note of protest, two Indian sources who have direct information on this subject told Reuters, informs News.ro.
“A US aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship's engine room after the crew repeatedly refused to comply with instructions from US forces,” the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X.
The ship is called the Settebello, a chemical and petroleum tanker sailing under the flag of Palau.
CENTCOM said on Wednesday it detained the Settebello oil tanker as it transited the Gulf of Oman, adding that it “violated the blockade in force by attempting to transport oil from Iran”.
India's foreign ministry condemned the attack and said three Indian sailors were missing, after 21 other Indian crew members were rescued from the attack.
“Our embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities the ongoing search and rescue operation,” the ministry said in a statement. “Attacks on commercial ships and civilian infrastructure in the region must stop,” he demanded.
India's diplomatic protest
As a result, India summoned a senior US diplomat stationed in New Delhi in connection with the attack on the oil tanker, two Indian sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. India submitted a “firm protest” to the deputy head of the US diplomatic mission in the country, Jason Meeks.
The US began blocking Iran-bound shipping on April 13 after Iran severely restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, an important global route for oil and gas.
CENTCOM said Wednesday that its forces had detained eight ships that did not comply with the restrictions, diverted 134 ships that did and allowed 42 ships carrying humanitarian aid to pass since the blockade began on April 13.
Targeted vessels include Iranian vessels as well as so-called “ghost fleet” oil tankers, which are typically older ships without Western insurance used to transport sanctioned oil and which sail under the flags of various nations to hide their true ownership, cargo and movements.
“I strongly condemn any act by any party that endangers the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping. This is simply unacceptable,” Arsenio Dominguez, secretary general of the UN maritime transport agency, the International Maritime Organization, said Wednesday after the incident. “My thoughts are with the families of the three missing sailors and all those who are waiting for news about the crew members,” the UN official said.
