US Attacks Kill 3 Indian Sailors in Gulf of Oman Tanker Strikes

Three Indian sailors aboard the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello were confirmed dead on Thursday after US military forces struck the vessel off the coast of Oman. India's Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced the deaths, calling the incident deeply unfortunate. The attack was the second in a series of three US strikes against tankers in the Gulf of Oman this week, as tensions mount over Iranian oil shipments amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.

The Victims

The three deceased were identified as deck cadet Aditya Sharma, engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya, and Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh, according to the Forward Seamen's Union of India. The Settebello had 24 Indian sailors aboard; three initially reported missing were confirmed dead once their bodies were located. US Central Command said it attacked the Settebello because it was attempting to transport oil from Iran in violation of the US blockade. The vessel's crew sent distress calls before rescue operations began.

Three Ships Struck in One Week

The Settebello attack came two days after the June 8 US strike on the tanker Marivex, also carrying Indian crew, from which 24 sailors were airlifted to safety by Omani authorities. On Thursday, a third vessel — the Guinea-Bissau-flagged MT Jalveer — was also disabled after allegedly carrying Iranian oil through the Gulf of Oman. All 20 Indian crew members survived and were evacuated. CENTCOM confirmed it fired two Hellfire missiles into the ship's engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with US forces.

India Protests, G7 Talks Loom

India's foreign ministry summoned a senior US diplomat in New Delhi to lodge a strong protest over the deaths of its nationals. The incident comes at a sensitive moment: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit next week. About 20 percent of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making continued tanker attacks a major concern for global energy markets. Analysts say both sides are attempting to negotiate from positions of strength — the US by ramping up pressure on Iran, Tehran by using Hormuz disruptions as economic leverage.