Three Indian crew members aboard an oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz have been confirmed dead following a United States military strike on the vessel, deepening international concern over the escalating conflict in the Gulf region and triggering a sharp diplomatic protest from New Delhi.
The victims were among 24 Indian seafarers serving aboard the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello, which was struck off the coast of Oman while navigating one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors. Indian authorities confirmed that 21 crew members were rescued, while the three missing sailors were later declared dead after search and recovery efforts concluded.
India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced the deaths on Thursday, bringing a tragic end to hopes that the missing crewmen might be found alive. Reports indicate that the vessel sustained severe damage and caught fire after its engine room was hit during the strike.
The U.S. Central Command acknowledged carrying out the attack, stating that American forces targeted the tanker after it allegedly ignored repeated instructions and was suspected of transporting Iranian oil in violation of Washington’s maritime blockade measures. According to U.S. military officials, precision munitions were fired into the vessel’s engine room to disable its movement.
India reacted with anger, summoning the U.S. chargé d’affaires in New Delhi to register a formal protest and demand an explanation for the deaths of its nationals. The Ministry of External Affairs described the continuing attacks on commercial shipping in the region as deeply troubling and called for urgent de-escalation of hostilities.
The tragedy has amplified fears over the safety of civilian mariners operating in the Gulf of Oman and around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route through which a significant share of the world’s oil supplies passes. Maritime unions and industry groups have warned that growing military confrontations in the region are placing thousands of seafarers at unprecedented risk.
As diplomatic tensions mount, the deaths of the three Indian sailors stand as a stark reminder of how rapidly the widening Middle East conflict is spilling beyond military targets and exacting a deadly toll on civilians caught in the crossfire. :::