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Published : 11 Jun 2026, 10:08 PM
Three Indian sailors have been confirmed dead after an oil tanker was struck by the US military in the Gulf of Oman, reports BBC citing Indian authorities.
The vessel, MT Settebello, came under attack on Wednesday while carrying 24 Indian crew members. Of them, 21 survivors were rescued later.
India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways identified the three victims as cadet Aditya Sharma, fitter Shivanand Chaurashiya and chief engineer Patnala Suresh.
India's Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said in a post on X that the bodies would be repatriated soon.
In a statement posted on X, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said a US aircraft fired “precision munitions” into the ship’s engine room after the crew had repeatedly failed to comply with instructions.
With another attack on Thursday, the US military struck three vessels in the Gulf this week. Indian crew members were aboard all three vessels.
Indian authorities said all 20 crew members aboard MT Jalveer were safe following a strike off the coast of Oman on Thursday.
CENTCOM said on X it targeted the Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker Jalveer after accusing it of attempting to transport Iranian oil in violation of Washington's blockade on Tehran, according to Gulf News.
“A US aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the ship's engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from US forces,” it said.
Earlier in the week, the 24 Indian crew members aboard the sanctioned oil tanker Marivex were rescued before the vessel sank.
CENTCOM said it had carried out both strikes.
American forces also struck the Palau-flagged Marivex in the Gulf of Oman on Monday after it failed to comply with instructions, it added.
Indian officials said the crew were rescued by the Omani military.
India's foreign ministry said it had lodged a "strong protest" with the US following the strike on the Palau-flagged Settebello, according to ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
