U.S. Strikes Palau-Flagged Settebello Off Oman, Leaving Three Indian Seafarers Missing

The U.S. military disabled the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello in the Gulf of Oman after US Central Command said the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces, and the attack left three Indian seafarers missing.

“Indian crew rescued after attack on oil tanker off Oman India has summoned a senior US diplomat after US forces fired on a Palau-flagged vessel with 24 Indian sailors on board off the coast of Oman, leaving three Indian seafarers missing”

Al Jazeera

India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Al Jazeera that it had summoned Jason Meeks, the US Embassy’s deputy chief of mission in New Delhi, after the strike, which CENTCOM described as a “precision” action.

Al Jazeera

The incident began when the chemical/oil products tanker reported an engine room fire 20 nautical miles (about 37km) northeast of Oman’s port of Sohar, and the Omani navy responded to the distress call.

Euronews reported that the U.S. aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship’s engine room after the crew ignored orders, and it said India condemned the attack in a statement after three Indian crewmembers were missing.

India lodged a protest after the strike, with the Times of India saying the MEA additional secretary (Americas) Nagaraj Naidu summoned US charge d’affaires Jason Meeks and delivered a formal demarche.

The Indian government also condemned the attack, and the Times of India quoted the MEA statement saying, "We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman, earlier today."

BBC

Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the UN’s shipping agency the International Maritime Organization, condemned the incident, telling reporters, "This is simply unacceptable. My thoughts are with the families of the three missing seafarers".

Euronews framed the U.S. action as enforcement of a blockade, saying the vessel was attempting to carry Iranian oil in violation of the US blockade, while UKMTO initially reported one dead and two missing among the crew.

The attack intensified scrutiny of the U.S. naval blockade of Iran, with Al Jazeera saying it has negatively affected Washington’s allies and could further damage India-US ties.

“Three Indian sailors missing after US says it hit tanker in Gulf of Oman The US military has disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that it accused of violating an American blockade by "attempting to transport oil from Iran"”

BBC

UPI reported that CENTCOM redirected 134 ships that complied with orders since the U.S. naval blockade began in April, and it said the military disabled an oil tanker on Monday, Palau-flagged M/T Marivex, after it violated the blockade.

The Hill reported that the U.S. military has redirected 134 ships that complied with orders since the blockade was imposed in April, and it said the U.S. forces have disabled eight non-compliant vessels and allowed 42 ships to pass through supporting humanitarian aid.

BBC reported that the U.S. forces have disabled eight vessels and redirected 134 others since initiating the blockade on 13 April, and it said India summoned the deputy head of the US mission in Delhi after the latest incident left three Indian sailors missing.