Three Indian seafarers have been killed following US Navy strikes on three commercial tankers in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, escalating diplomatic tensions.
Over the past week, at least three vessels carrying predominantly Indian crews have come under US military attack as Washington enforces a naval campaign against Iran-linked shipping.
A US jet fired two missiles into the engine room of the tanker Jalveer off Oman on Thursday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed. Authorities said all 20 crew members were safe.
Three Indian sailors were killed in a US strike on the tanker Settebello off Oman a day earlier.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters that the “attacks must cease.”
This is the third Indian-crewed tanker hit by US forces this week, after the oil tanker Marivex was disabled with precision munitions on Monday.
In each incident, CENTCOM said the crews failed to comply with directions issued by US forces enforcing the blockade.
The vessels targeted include Iranian ships as well as others carrying Iranian cargoes, including so-called “shadow fleet” tankers.
These are typically older vessels without Western insurance that are used to transport sanctioned oil and sail under the flags of various nations to obscure their true ownership, cargoes, and movements.
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