NEW DELHI: 3 Indian seafarers have lost their lives after a US military strike targeted a Palau-flagged oil tanker near the coast of Oman, in a developing maritime incident linked to tensions over Iranian oil shipments. The fatalities were confirmed by India’s Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal after the missing crew members were located and identified.
The vessel, identified as the MT Settebello, was carrying a 28-member crew, including 24 Indian nationals and four foreign nationals—two Pakistanis, one Ukrainian, and one Russian—when it came under attack in the Gulf of Oman earlier this week.
According to initial reports, 21 Indian crew members were safely rescued, while three remained unaccounted for following the strike. Those later confirmed dead have been identified as deck cadet Aditya Sharma, engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya, and chief engineer Patnala Suresh.
In a statement on social media, Minister Sonowal described the incident as “deeply unfortunate” and confirmed that the bodies of the deceased seafarers had been recovered. He added that the government is coordinating the swift repatriation of mortal remains and providing assistance to the families of the victims.
The strike was carried out by forces under the United States Central Command, which claimed the vessel violated enforcement measures related to restrictions on Iranian oil transport. US authorities alleged that the tanker failed to comply with repeated instructions and was attempting to move Iranian crude oil through sanctioned maritime routes.
The tanker reportedly came under fire in the Gulf of Oman, a key international shipping route connected to the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global energy trade passes.
Following the incident, India strongly condemned the attack, stating that 24 Indian nationals were exposed to danger during the operation. New Delhi also raised concerns about escalating risks to civilian maritime workers in conflict-prone waters and called for immediate de-escalation of tensions in the region.
The Indian government summoned the US diplomatic representative in New Delhi and lodged a formal protest, demanding accountability and safe repatriation of surviving crew members. Officials emphasized that the safety of seafarers must be prioritized under international maritime law.
Meanwhile, US Central Command maintained that the vessel was part of a broader enforcement operation against alleged illegal oil transport from Iran. The incident has further intensified concerns over maritime security in the Gulf region, where ongoing geopolitical tensions have already disrupted shipping routes.
The tragedy has drawn attention to the vulnerability of commercial shipping crews operating in high-risk zones, especially amid rising military activity and competing enforcement actions in international waters.
