Asiaupdated 2h ago2 min read
India Condemns Drone Attacks in Strait of Hormuz, Two Indian Sailors Missing
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Two Indian sailors missing after drone strike on MT Petro Dolphin off Sohar, Oman MEA coordinated with Omani authorities for rescue and condemned the attacks
23 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Avalanche Strikes Himlung Himal Base Camp In Nepal, At Least 10 Missing →
Drone Hit, Missing Indians
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it condemned attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on October 11, and it said MT PETRO DOLPHIN was reportedly struck by a drone with two of the 11 Indian seafarers onboard reported missing. India’s Ministry of External Affairs added that MT VALTHERA, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, was struck by an unknown projectile, resulting in a fire onboard, and it said all 11 Indian seafarers onboard MT VALTHERA are reported to be safe. The Embassy of India in Muscat is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Omani authorities and respective ship management companies for the rescue of missing Indians.
UKMTO confirmed the attack on Sunday and Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said nine survivors have been rescued while the SAR operation continues for the two missing sailors. The Maritime Executive said the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT PETRO DOLPHIN was awaiting berthing at Sohar Anchorage, Oman, when it was reportedly attacked by a drone.
IRGC Claims and Warnings
The Economic Times said Press TV reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed that "the third violating supertanker was hit in the Strait of Hormuz this morning, sparking a fire on board". The Economic Times also said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei asserted that Tehran maintains total control over the crucial energy corridor, warning that security cannot return as long as foreign military aggression and economic blockades persist. There is no confirmed link between the US strike and the attacks on the tankers, and the US blockade restricts ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.
The IRGC Navy warning said "All ships within the limits of the Strait of Hormuz that turn off their navigation and identification systems will be identified as hostile". The IRGC Navy also released a video of a tanker that purportedly suffered a hit in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that the vessel struck a mine, while the US government claims mines have previously been cleared.
Market and Regional Stakes
Mohamed Anis, the economic expert, said oil markets react to a mix of contradictory news, including rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and confrontations related to the Iranian-American crisis. اليوم السابع reported that Anis said the attack on an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz complicates the scene by raising market doubts about the sustainability of shipments leaving the strait. Anis told Extra News channel that he expected average oil prices during 2026, 2027, and 2028 to hover around $80 per barrel, and he said returning oil prices to the $60-per-barrel level or lower has become highly unlikely.
Anis said he expected prices to move within a range of $85 to $90 per barrel, ruling out a return to levels below $60 even if the crisis ends soon. Anis said consuming commercial and strategic oil reserves by states over the past eight months will lead to higher demand and a need to replenish those reserves, estimating that this will add demand of at least one to two million barrels per day.