Three Indian Sailors Killed After U.S. Strike on Oil Tanker Near Oman Coast

Darwin, 11 June : Three Indian sailors have been confirmed dead after a U.S. missile strike hit an oil tanker near Oman’s coast in the , according to reports on Thursday.

India’s shipping minister, , confirmed that the three previously missing Indian crew members had died following the attack.

The oil tanker, named Settebello, reportedly came under missile fire when U.S. forces struck its engine room on Wednesday, sparking a fire onboard. The vessel, sailing under the flag of , had 28 crew members, including 24 Indian nationals.

The attack occurred around 20 nautical miles off the Omani port of . Following the incident, the ship sent out a distress signal requesting emergency assistance.

The Indian Embassy in said in a post on X that 21 of the 24 Indian nationals onboard had been rescued safely.

British maritime security firm said the tanker was targeted amid a U.S. naval blockade aimed at restricting the movement of vessels linked to Iran. According to the firm, ships attempting to pass through the blockade have either been turned back or attacked to disable movement.

The incident comes as tensions between the and have sharply escalated since Wednesday, with both sides reportedly exchanging attacks for a second consecutive day.

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