Oman Tanker Attack: 2 Indian Seafarers Killed in US Strike on MT Settebello

New Delhi: A government official confirmed on Thursday that at least two of the three Indian seafarers missing after an attack on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello have died. The vessel, carrying 24 Indian crew members, was hit during a United States strike off the coast of Oman earlier this week.

Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal initially shared the tragic update on the social media platform X, confirming the deaths of all three missing crew members following the recovery of two bodies.

Calling the tragedy a “profound loss to our maritime family,” Sonowal stated that the Modi government stands firmly with the grieving families and is committed to supporting the next of kin. He added that he had instructed officials to fast-track the repatriation of the 21 rescued crew members and ensure the swift return of the deceased’s mortal remains for their final rites. However, the minister later deleted the post from his account.

Escalating Diplomatic Tensions: India Summons US Envoy

The incident has triggered a sharp diplomatic response from New Delhi. On Wednesday, India strongly condemned the attack on the commercial vessel and summoned the senior-most US diplomat in New Delhi to lodge a formal protest.

“We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official statement issued before the deaths were confirmed. At the time, the MEA noted that while 21 Indian nationals had been safely rescued, three remained missing.

Indian officials explicitly conveyed to the US administration that any military actions endangering the lives of Indian seafarers are entirely unacceptable. New Delhi also raised serious concerns regarding the overall safety of Indian nationals working on commercial ships across the region.

Timeline of the MT Settebello Incident

• The Strike: A US military strike hit the Palau-flagged MT Settebello off the coast of Oman.
• The Crew: The tanker had 24 Indian nationals on board at the time of the attack.
• The Rescue & Search: Rescuers saved 21 crew members, while Indian authorities coordinated closely with Omani officials to search for the remaining three.
• The Outcome: Officials have now confirmed the fatalities after recovering the bodies of the missing seafarers.