3 Indian sailors killed in second US attack on vessel sailing near Oman coast | Today’s news
A total of 3 Indian sailors have been confirmed dead in a second US attack on a vessel sailing near the coast of Oman. India’s Minister of Shipping and Waterways announced the tragic news in a post on social media on Thursday. He confirmed that all three sailors were on board the Palau-flagged MT Settebello.
In a post on X, Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said: “It is deeply unfortunate to learn of the tragic incident on board the Palau-flagged MT Settebello. It is sad that three Indian sailors who were initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after two bodies have been recovered.”
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Expressing his condolences to the bereaved families, he added: “I have directed officials to ensure the immediate repatriation of the rescued crew members and the speedy return of the remains of the deceased for their final rites.”
A total of 24 Indian crew members were on board the vessel, officials confirmed to ANI. Although three were initially reported missing, 21 were rescued. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier condemned the attack and said in a statement that it was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating rescue efforts with authorities in Oman.
“We condemn the attack earlier today on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman. Of the 24 Indian crew on board, 21 Indians have been rescued so far,” the MEA said. One of the deceased sailors was identified as Shivanand Chaurasia, who was a resident of Surauli village in Uttar Pradesh.
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Indian Embassy in Oman reacts to death of sailors
Reacting to the development, the Embassy of India in Oman said in a statement: “Today, we have come to know about the incident involving a ship at the port of Shinas, Oman. We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the local authorities for further details.”
CENTCOM issues statement on latest strike on Palau-flagged vessel
The development of the sailors’ deaths comes after US Central Command said on Wednesday that US forces had attacked another oil tanker sailing in the Gulf of Oman. The first attack on a Palau-flagged tanker took place on June 8 and the second the following day.
Following the latest strike on a Palau-flagged vessel, US Central Command said in a post on X: “At 23:14 on June 9, US forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman for the second day in a row after another vessel violated the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran.
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The statement added: “US Central Command (CENTCOM) disabled the Palau-flagged M/T Settebello while transiting the Gulf of Oman. A US aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to follow instructions from US forces.”
So far, U.S. forces have struck eight vessels, all of which were reportedly non-compliant. Since the blockade began on April 13, CENTCOM has also diverted 134 ships and allowed 42 humanitarian aid vessels to pass through.
On June 8, US forces targeted an unloaded oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. The U.S. Central Command claimed the vessel violated the ongoing blockade against Iran by attempting to enter an Iranian port. An American F/A-18 Super Hornet was used to strike the vessel identified as the M/T Marivex.
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) disabled the Palau-flagged M/T Marivex as it transited international waters in the Gulf of Oman toward Iran. An F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) fired precision munitions into the ship’s engineering and control spaces,” said MarivexENTCOM, which no longer followed directions from CENTRUM in a U.S. military statement.
