New Delhi:
The United States has acknowledged launching a missile strike on an oil tanker carrying Indian crew members off the coast of Oman, intensifying concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers in the Gulf region. The incident marks the third attack involving a vessel with Indian crew members near Oman within a week.
In a statement posted on X, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had taken action against the Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker MT Jalveer, alleging that the vessel was attempting to transport Iranian oil through the Gulf of Oman in violation of a U.S.-enforced blockade.
According to CENTCOM, a U.S. aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the ship’s engine room after the crew allegedly failed to comply with repeated instructions from American forces.
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) acted against Guinea-Bissau-flagged M/T Jalveer as it attempted to transport oil from Iran through the Gulf of Oman. A U.S. aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the ship’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from U.S. forces,” the command said.
CENTCOM further claimed that since launching its blockade on April 13, it has disabled nine vessels that allegedly failed to comply with orders, redirected 135 ships, and allowed 42 vessels carrying humanitarian assistance to proceed.
According to Iran’s Mehr News Agency, five of the vessel’s 20 crew members were rescued by passing ships and brought to safety in Oman. Details regarding the condition of the remaining crew members have not yet been officially confirmed.
India Condemns Attacks On Ships With Indian Seafarers
India has strongly condemned the recent attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian crew members in West Asia, describing the incidents as deeply concerning.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was closely monitoring the situation and remained committed to the welfare and safety of Indian seafarers.
“There have been several incidents involving Indian seafarers in West Asia in the last few days. We attach high importance to the welfare and well-being of our seafarers’ community,” Jaiswal said during a media briefing on Thursday.
Referring to an earlier attack near Oman that resulted in the deaths of three Indian nationals, he said India had formally registered its protest with the United States.
“Yesterday, we condemned the attack on a ship off the coast of Oman in which, unfortunately, we lost three Indian nationals. We had summoned the U.S. Charge d’Affaires to register a strong protest. We expect the U.S. to take due note of our protest,” he added.
Third Vessel With Indian Crew Targeted Near Oman
The MT Jalveer incident is the latest in a series of attacks involving ships staffed by Indian sailors.
Earlier this week, three Indian crew members were reported missing after the Palau-flagged oil tanker Settebello came under attack off the coast of Oman. The U.S. military later stated that the vessel had been targeted while allegedly attempting to breach its blockade against Iranian oil shipments.
In another incident on Monday, a fire broke out aboard MT Marivex, which was carrying 24 Indian seafarers south of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicated that the vessel had also come under attack.
The succession of incidents has raised serious concerns about maritime security in the Gulf region, particularly for Indian seafarers who form a significant portion of the workforce on international commercial vessels operating in West Asian waters.
With tensions escalating around Iran-related shipping routes, India is expected to continue engaging diplomatically with all parties involved while seeking stronger protections for its nationals working at sea.