Arabic version: الضربات الأمريكية على السفن تودي بحياة بحارة هنود في هرمز
Three Indian sailors have been killed in strikes on at least three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz this week, as the United States doubles down on its naval blockade of Iranian ports. The Indian government on Wednesday summoned a senior US diplomat in New Delhi to demand an explanation after the US military hit a Palau-flagged ship off Oman’s coast, killing the three Indian sailors.
According to Al Jazeera, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that its forces had “disabled” a third tanker in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel “violated the blockade against Iran by attempting to transport Iranian oil,” further escalating tensions in the region.
The attacks have raised significant concerns for Indian seafarers, with Manoj Yadav from the Forward Seamen’s Union of India expressing alarm over the frequency and severity of the incidents. He reported receiving frantic calls from Indian crew on board the Palau-flagged Marivex ship, which was struck by US missiles, indicating the dire situation faced by those in the area.
The Indian embassy in Oman is investigating yet another incident involving a vessel off the Shinas port in Oman, as the government continues to voice its deep concerns over the ongoing violence. Indian officials have called for an immediate end to the attacks and emphasized the need for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace and stability in the region.
