3 Indian seafarers missing after US strike on vessel near Hormuz; India summons American diplomat
Mangalore Today News Network
New Delhi, Jun 11, 2026: India on Wednesday summoned a senior US diplomat in New Delhi after three Indian seafarers were reported missing following an American strike on the commercial vessel MT Settebello off the coast of Oman.
The MT Settebello, sailing under the flag of Palau near the Strait of Hormuz, had 24 Indian crew members on board. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), 21 Indian seafarers were rescued after the vessel’s engine room was hit by precision munitions, while three others remain missing.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s diplomatic mission in Muscat was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities involved in the ongoing search and rescue operation launched after the strike. India also condemned the attack on the commercial vessel.
Jason Meeks, the chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy in New Delhi, was summoned to the MEA headquarters, where senior officials handed over a démarche expressing India’s concerns over repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the region.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had "disabled" the Palau-flagged MT Settebello while it was transiting the Gulf of Oman. According to CENTCOM, a US aircraft targeted the vessel’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with instructions issued by American forces.
"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 MEA said in a statement.
The incident involving MT Settebello occurred just two days after another Palau-flagged oil tanker, MT Marivex, was similarly attacked by US forces in the Gulf of Oman. According to reports, MT Marivex was targeted after attempting to sail to an Iranian port in violation of the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. All 24 Indian crew members aboard that vessel were rescued.
The current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz began after Iran restricted and later closed shipping through the strategic waterway following US-Israeli military action against Tehran. In response, the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports from April 13, escalating tensions and disrupting global maritime trade.
CENTCOM stated on Wednesday that since the blockade began, it had disabled eight non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that complied with its directives, and allowed 42 humanitarian aid vessels to pass.
India reiterated its call for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in West Asia and urged all parties to pursue diplomatic efforts to restore peace and stability in the region.
"The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through international waterways, in keeping with international law, must be restored at the earliest," the MEA said.
India has repeatedly expressed concern over the prolonged conflict in West Asia, warning of its humanitarian and economic consequences. The ongoing tensions have also heightened concerns over India’s energy security, given the country’s heavy reliance on imported crude oil.
India imports nearly 85 per cent of its crude oil requirements, with the Strait of Hormuz serving as a critical transit route for a substantial portion of these supplies. Nearly two-fifths of India’s crude oil imports pass through the strategic waterway, along with more than half of its LNG cargoes and nearly 90 per cent of LPG shipments. Continued instability in the region could disrupt supplies, increase shipping costs and add pressure on India’s energy import bill.