US attack on ship near Hormuz: Two Indian sailors dead, chief engineer still missing

NEW DELHI: Two Indian sailors died and a chief engineer remains missing after a commercial vessel came under attack near the Strait of Hormuz, the Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) said on Thursday, raising concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the conflict-hit Gulf region. The development comes after the ministry of external affairs (MEA) earlier said that 21 of the 24 Indian crew members aboard MT Settebello, which was attacked off the coast of Oman, had been rescued while three Indians remained missing. Search and rescue operations are continuing in coordination with Omani authorities. The vessel involved in the latest incident, the Palau-flagged MT Settebello, was carrying 24 Indian crew members when it was struck while transiting the Gulf of Oman. Unlike another vessel targeted earlier by US forces, Settebello was reportedly not on the US sanctions blacklist. FSUI General Secretary Manoj Yadav said communication with the vessel remains disrupted, making it difficult to independently verify all details. "We have been unable to establish a connection with the ship," Yadav told ANI. "The latest information I have indicates that two have died, while the chief engineer is still reported as missing." According to Yadav, the three affected crew members belonged to different parts of India. "The three are from Himachal Pradesh, Deoria (Uttar Pradesh), and Andhra Pradesh," he said. The attack occurred amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route that has witnessed repeated attacks on commercial vessels in recent weeks as the conflict in West Asia intensifies. Earlier, the MEA condemned the attack on MT Settebello and said the Indian embassy in Oman was closely monitoring the situation. "We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman, earlier today. Of the 24 Indian crew onboard, 21 Indians have been rescued thus far and 03 Indians are reportedly missing. Our Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing Search and Rescue operation," the ministry said in a statement. The government also expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the region and the growing threat to commercial shipping. "The continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome and a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region." The ministry said, "We reiterate our call for immediate de-escalation of tensions, and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region." Meanwhile, India has also formally protested the attack on the vessel. MEA additional secretary (Americas) Nagaraj Naidu summoned US Charge d'Affaires Jason Meeks and delivered a formal demarche over the strike, which left three Indian crew members unaccounted for. The protest came amid concerns that commercial shipping vessels carrying Indian sailors have increasingly been caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict. Indian officials reportedly stressed that the targeting of commercial shipping must stop and underscored the importance of protecting the lives of seafarers operating in international waters. Yadav also questioned whether alternative measures could have been taken before military action was carried out against the vessel, arguing that US authorities would likely have been aware of the nationalities of those on board. "I absolutely refuse to believe that the US lacked information regarding the nationalities of the people on board those ships. That is simply not possible. I am 101% certain that US naval forces knew exactly how many Indians and foreign nationals were on those vessels. If the ships failed to heed their instructions, detaining them was a viable alternative," Yadav said. The attack on MT Settebello is the latest in a series of incidents involving commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints. With tensions continuing to rise in the region, concerns are growing over the safety of merchant shipping and the thousands of Indian seafarers working aboard international vessels operating in Gulf waters. (With inputs from ANI)