Three Indian sailors have been killed in a US missile strike on the oil tanker Settebello off the coast of Oman, Indian government officials confirmed on Thursday. Reuters reported that Indian Minister of Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal officially announced the deaths, ending the search for the three crew members who had been missing following the attack on Wednesday. The vessel, which was targeted in the engine room, was operating in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz when it was hit.
The Palau-flagged tanker was carrying a crew of 28, including 24 Indian nationals. Following the strike, an immediate rescue operation was launched by Omani authorities in coordination with the Indian Embassy in Muscat. While 21 of the Indian crew members were successfully rescued, the search for the remaining three ultimately resulted in the confirmation of their deaths. British maritime security firm Ambrey indicated that the tanker was targeted as part of a US naval blockade aimed at restricting Iran-linked commercial shipping.
This incident marks a grave escalation in the maritime tension surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command has intensified its naval blockade, targeting vessels deemed to be in violation of sanctions. However, the use of live ammunition on civilian-crewed vessels has drawn international scrutiny. The attack on the Settebello occurred during the second day of renewed, direct military exchanges between the United States and Iran, following a period of already heightened regional instability.
Analysts warn that the tactical reliance on missile strikes to disable ships is putting commercial sailors at severe risk. With both the US and Iran engaging in retaliatory fire across the region, the maritime corridor is becoming increasingly hazardous for non-combatant vessels. The Indian government has expressed grave concern regarding the incident, and diplomatic channels are reportedly engaged in assessing the circumstances behind the strike. The tragedy highlights the human cost of the ongoing geopolitical standoff in the Gulf, as merchant vessels continue to navigate a treacherous path through one of the world`s most contested waterways.
