India protests to Washington as third maritime incident involving Indian seafarers in Gulf waters within a week heightens security fears
PRAVASISAMWAD.COM
A US military strike on a tanker in the Gulf of Oman has intensified concerns over maritime security in the region after reports that Indian crew members were among those affected.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that it fired two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles at the Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker MT Jalveer, accusing the vessel of attempting to transport Iranian oil in violation of US sanctions and a maritime blockade imposed on Tehran.
According to CENTCOM, the tanker repeatedly failed to comply with instructions issued by US forces, prompting a US aircraft to target the ship’s engine room. The military said the action was intended to disable the vessel rather than sink it.
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Iran’s Mehr news agency reported that five of the ship’s 20 crew members were rescued by passing vessels and taken to Oman
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However, there has been no official confirmation from Indian authorities regarding casualties or injuries aboard MT Jalveer
The incident comes amid growing tensions following another US strike near Oman earlier this week that reportedly killed three Indian seafarers aboard the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello. Washington had similarly accused that vessel of attempting to breach restrictions on Iranian oil exports.
India has strongly criticised the recent attacks on ships carrying Indian crew members. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the incidents as “deeply worrisome” and called for an immediate end to such actions.
India also confirmed that it had summoned the US chargé d’affaires to lodge a formal protest over the deaths of three Indian nationals in the earlier strike.
The attack on MT Jalveer marks the third incident involving Indian-crewed vessels in waters near Oman within days. Earlier in the week, a fire aboard the tanker MT Marivex south of the Strait of Hormuz damaged the vessel, although all 24 Indian crew members were reported safe.
The succession of incidents has heightened concerns over the safety of seafarers operating in one of the world’s busiest shipping routes as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to affect Gulf maritime traffic. The International Maritime Organization has also condemned the latest use of force against commercial shipping.
