India says US attack on ships off Oman coast ‘must cease and end’, lodges strong protest

Published 11 June 2026 · india

India lodged a strong protest with the US over attacks by the United States on ships carrying Indian seafarers in West Asia, Ministry of External

India lodged a strong protest with the US over attacks by the United States on ships carrying Indian seafarers in West Asia, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday. The ministry condemned the attack on the Palau-flagged MT Settebello off the coast of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, in which three Indian seafarers were killed. The US Central Command acknowledged the strike, saying the vessel violated the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports by attempting to transport oil from Iran. Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What incident involving Indian seafarers occurred off the coast of Oman? ⌵ Three Indian seafarers were killed in an attack on the Palau-flagged MT Settebello by the US Navy off the coast of Oman, which was confirmed by India's Ministry of External Affairs. 2 Why did India protest against the US attack on vessels in the Gulf region? ⌵ India lodged a strong protest because the attacks involved ships carrying Indian seafarers, resulting in loss of lives, and emphasized the need for the welfare and safety of its seafaring community.

3 How did the US Central Command justify the attacks on the vessels? ⌵ The US Central Command stated that the vessels breached the blockade of Iranian ports by attempting to transport oil, which prompted the military action against them. 4 What actions has India taken following the attacks on its seafarers? ⌵ India summoned the US Chargé d'Affaires to express its strong objection and called for an immediate cessation of attacks on shipping, urging for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict. 5 Should Indian flagged vessels avoid sailing in the region amid the US blockade? ⌵ Yes, given the ongoing conflict and attacks on foreign-flagged vessels in the region, it is advisable for Indian flagged vessels to exercise caution and consider alternative routes. A similar attack on a Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel, a bitumen tanker MT Jalveer, which was carrying 20 Indian seafarers, was confirmed by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on Thursday.

This was the third such attack on ships with Indian seafarers on board. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that all three ships involved in these incidents were foreign-flagged vessels. "Two of them were Palau-flagged, while the third ship, which came under attack today, was Guinea-flagged. They were not Indian-owned ships; all of them were foreign-flagged vessels," Randhir Jaiswal said. "...we condemned the attack on a ship off the coast of Oman in which, unfortunately, we lost three Indian nationals," he said. India lodges protest: 'Attacks came from US Navy' Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that when the attack on the ship MT Settebello happened, "we lodged a strong protest with the American side." "These attacks came from the US Navy stationed there," he said. "We summoned the US Chargé d'Affaires and conveyed our deepest concern over the ongoing incidents of attacks," the MEA said. Sharing details, the ministry said, “We also registered our strong protest with them.