USA Attacks Commercial Vessel Off Oman Coast; 24 Indians Among 28 People On Board

A commercial vessel was attacked off the coast of Oman. There were a total of 28 people on board, 24 of whom were Indian. Tragically, three Indians are reported missing following the attack, while 21 have been successfully rescued. The incident occurred on June 10, and India has strongly condemned the attack.

The vessel targeted is named 'Stabello'. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that 21 of the 24 Indian crew members have been rescued so far, while three remain missing. The Ministry stated that the Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and actively coordinating with Omani authorities on the ongoing search and rescue operations.

Citing the British maritime security group Ambrey, Reuters reported that the incident was likely a consequence of US operations aimed at blockading Iranian ports. Crews had previously been advised to gather at the bow (front) of the ship rather than the stern (rear) in the event of an attack.

Another source linked to maritime security suggested that the vessel might have been struck by a US missile.

**US Diplomat Summoned**

Meanwhile, India summoned the US Chargé d'Affaires in New Delhi on Wednesday to lodge a strong protest. Nagaraj Naidu, Additional Secretary (Americas) at the Ministry of External Affairs, summoned US Chargé d'Affaires Jason Meeks following the attack on the tanker 'Stabello'. India condemned the attack and expressed concern regarding the safety of Indian nationals at sea.

US Central Command has not yet commented on the attack.

Expressing deep concern over the volatile security situation in West Asia, India has directly linked this maritime attack to the broader geopolitical tensions prevailing in the region. Attacks are deeply concerning

The Ministry of External Affairs stated, "The continuing attacks on vessels in this region are a matter of grave concern and are a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict in the area." The Ministry called for an immediate ceasefire to restore peace and urged for a swift resolution through diplomatic dialogue.

India also emphasized the need to shield global trade routes from the impact of geopolitical tensions. The government demanded an immediate halt to the targeting of civilian infrastructure and commercial vessels, urging the international community to ensure the unhindered movement of ships through vital waterways while strictly adhering to international maritime law.

According to Reuters, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported a fire in the engine room of a Palau-flagged chemical/oil product tanker located 20 nautical miles northeast of the port of Sohar, Oman.

According to the British maritime risk management group 'Vanguard', the vessel was named 'Setebello', and the Omani Navy responded promptly to the distress call sent by the ship.

Vessel was off the coast of Oman on June 1

According to the MarineTraffic ship-tracking platform, the tanker was partially laden and was last spotted off the coast of Oman on June 1.

The US began restricting the movement of Iran-linked vessels on April 13, after Iran significantly curtailed shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global artery for oil and gas.

On June 8, CENTCOM stated that the US military intercepted seven non-compliant vessels, rerouted 134 compliant vessels, and allowed 42 vessels carrying humanitarian aid to proceed.