India on Wednesday lodged a strong diplomatic protest with the United States following a US military strike on the commercial tanker Settebello off the coast of Oman, an incident that has left three Indian crew members missing.
According to sources, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned US Charge d’Affaires Jason Meeks and handed over a formal demarche expressing India’s concerns over the attack on the vessel, which carried 24 Indian nationals on board.
The tanker, reportedly flagged under Palau, was struck in the Gulf of Oman after allegedly attempting to breach a US-imposed blockade on Iranian ports. In a statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces targeted the vessel’s engine room with precision munitions after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with instructions issued by US military personnel.
“The US Central Command disabled Palau-flagged M/T Settebello as it transited the Gulf of Oman. A US aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces,” CENTCOM stated.
India strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing the need to protect commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region.
“We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman. Of the 24 Indian crew onboard, 21 Indians have been rescued thus far and three Indians are reportedly missing,” the MEA said in an official statement.
The ministry added that the Indian Embassy in Muscat is closely coordinating with Omani authorities and monitoring ongoing search-and-rescue operations for the missing sailors.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia following renewed hostilities between Iran and Israel. India warned that continued attacks on commercial vessels threaten regional stability and global trade.
“The continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome and a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region,” the MEA noted.
Reiterating its call for restraint, India urged all parties to pursue diplomatic solutions and restore peace in the region. The ministry also stressed that “targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure must end” and called for the restoration of free and unimpeded navigation through international waterways in accordance with international law.
Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which monitors maritime security in strategic waterways, reported that the tanker suffered an engine-room fire following the strike. The organization confirmed one casualty and two missing persons, while local authorities continued emergency response efforts.
The latest incident underscores growing risks to maritime trade routes in the Gulf region, a critical corridor for global energy shipments, as the conflict between Iran and Israel continues to escalate.
