Three Indian sailors killed: India summons US envoy, demands end to attacks

Three Indian sailors killed: India summons US envoy, demands end to attacks

India has summoned a senior US diplomat and demanded an end to attacks on vessels after three Indian sailors were killed in a US strike on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday, June 11, strongly condemned the attack on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello, which killed three Indian nationals . The ministry summoned Jason Meeks, the US Embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi, to register a "strong protest" .

"These attacks must cease and end," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters. "We also call for dialogue and diplomacy so that we can have an early return to peace and stability in the region" .

The US Navy has attacked three vessels carrying Indian crew members this week off the Oman coast, Jaiswal confirmed. The attacks, carried out by the US Navy as part of Washington's efforts to enforce a naval blockade on Iran-linked shipping, are "deeply worrisome and a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region," he said .

According to Indian authorities, the MT Settebello was struck on Wednesday, June 10, by a US aircraft that fired precision munitions into its engine room after the crew "repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces," according to US Central Command (CENTCOM) . The vessel was accused of "violating the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran" .

The Omani navy responded to the vessel's distress call and rescued 21 Indian crew members. The three sailors who died were identified as Aditya Sharma, Shivanand Chaurasia, and Patnala Suresh . Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal described the deaths as a "profound loss to our maritime family" .

Earlier this week, US forces also disabled two other tankers with Indian crew members: the MT Marivex on June 8 and the MT Jalveer on June 11 . All crew members on those vessels were reported safe.

The deaths are the first reported since the US blockade on Iranian ports began on April 13 . CENTCOM said the blockade has so far disabled eight non-compliant vessels and redirected 134 ships .

India has repeatedly called for restraint from all warring parties and emphasised that "targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end" . The government has also stressed the importance of free and unimpeded navigation through international waterways in accordance with international law .

The incident comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France next week.