India says three Indian sailors are missing after an attack on the oil-products tanker Settebello off Oman’s coast. Multiple outlets report that of 24 Indian crew members onboard, 21 have been rescued by Omani authorities while three remain unaccounted for. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs condemns the incident and states it is closely monitoring developments. The Indian embassy in Muscat is also reported to be in contact as rescue and verification efforts continue.
Several reports connect the incident to a US military action in the Gulf of Oman, with the United States stating it fired on the tanker after alleging it attempted to breach a blockade related to Iran. India responds to the event by summoning the top US diplomat in New Delhi to protest the attack and urge de-escalation and the restoration of safe navigation in international waters.
Reports also note a nearby precedent: a similar incident last week involving an Indian-crewed vessel where Omani forces rescued 24 Indian sailors. Across sources, the central points remain that the vessel was attacked, Omani rescue operations succeeded for most crew, and three Indian sailors are still missing as diplomatic responses unfold.
