Another ship carrying Indians comes under attack off Oman coast amid rising Gulf tensions
A commercial vessel carrying Indian sailors has reportedly come under attack off the coast of Oman, marking the third such incident involving Indian-crewed ships near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz amid escalating regional tensions. The vessel, identified as MT Jalveer, was involved in an incident near Oman’s Shinas port on Thursday. While details regarding casualties or the extent of damage were not immediately available, Indian authorities said they were closely monitoring the situation.
The Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed awareness of the incident and said it was coordinating with local authorities to gather more information. “We have learnt of an incident involving a vessel off Shinas port of Oman earlier today. We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the local authorities for further details,” the embassy said in a statement.
The latest incident comes shortly after two separate attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian crew members near the Gulf of Oman. Earlier on Thursday, authorities confirmed the deaths of three Indian seafarers who had initially been reported missing after an attack on the Palau-flagged vessel MT Settebello. A total of 21 Indian crew members were rescued following that incident.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal expressed condolences over the deaths and assured support to the affected families. Calling it a “profound loss” for India’s maritime community, Sonowal said the government was committed to assisting the next of kin and facilitating the repatriation of both the rescued crew members and the mortal remains of the deceased sailors.
The attack on MT Settebello occurred just days after another Palau-flagged vessel carrying 24 Indian crew members was targeted in Gulf waters. The incident was acknowledged by the US Central Command, which stated that the vessel had allegedly violated restrictions related to Iranian oil transportation.
India has strongly condemned the attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian nationals and has reportedly summoned a US diplomat to register its protest. The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that civilian shipping routes must remain protected and called for measures to ensure the safety of seafarers operating in the region. The ministry also stressed the need for de-escalation of tensions and urged all sides to safeguard maritime commerce through international waterways.
The recent incidents have raised concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the Gulf region, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.