Middle East War: US Admits To Attack On Third Ship Carrying Indian Crew

Dubai: War has once again erupted in West Asia. Amidst this, following a fire incident on the 'MT Jalveer' - a ship with an Indian crew - near Oman's Shinas port in the Strait of Hormuz, the US has admitted to attacking the vessel. US Central Command (CENTCOM) itself acknowledged firing two lethal Hellfire missiles at the engine room of the 'MT Jalveer', a merchant vessel manned by an Indian crew. This US action, which disregarded the safety of Indian sailors in the Gulf region, is causing a lot of uproar in the international community.

This marks the third attack this week on a ship with an Indian crew near Oman. In a post on the social media platform X, US Central Command stated, "US Central Command (CENTCOM) took action against the Guinea-Bissau-flagged 'M/T Jalveer' as it attempted to transport oil from Iran via the Gulf of Oman. After repeated failure to comply with US military directives, a US aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the ship's engine room."

Third attack in a week: Are Indian sailors being targeted?

This is not an isolated incident; rather, it is the third US attack on ships with Indian crews within the last seven days. Notably, the Guinea-Bissau-flagged *MT Jalveer* carried 20 crew members, of whom only five have been rescued so far. The US claims the ship was transporting oil from Iran and failed to heed instructions. Earlier, on Wednesday, the US attacked the *Settebello* near the coast of Oman; three Indian sailors went missing and are presumed dead, while 21 were evacuated.

Why Was the 'MT Marivex' Attacked on Monday?

Prior to this, a massive fire broke out following an attack on the *MT Marivex* on Monday; the vessel had 24 Indian sailors on board. India has reacted strongly to these attacks, stating that such actions must cease immediately. Breaking its silence on the matter, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has strongly condemned these attacks. Describing the incidents as "deeply concerning," India has clearly asserted that attacks targeting Indian sailors must stop at once.

Are Lives of Innocent Sailors at Risk?

Innocent Indian sailors are bearing the brunt of the aggressive stance the US has adopted at sea in the name of enforcing its blockade against Iran. While the US is bombing various targets within Iran, it is simultaneously posing a serious threat to maritime security by firing missiles at commercial vessels.