Three Indian Seafarers Confirmed Dead After U.S. Strike on Iran-Linked Tanker
- Jun 11
- 1 min read
RIYADH, June 11 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Three Indian seafarers were confirmed dead after a U.S. strike on an Iran-linked oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, Indian Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced.
The seafarers had initially been reported missing aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello before their bodies were located and identified.
Sonowal described the incident as a “profound loss” to India’s maritime community and directed officials to arrange the repatriation of rescued crew members and the return of the deceased for final rites.
There were 24 crew members on board the vessel at the time of the strike. Twenty-one were rescued.
India condemned the attack on the M/T Settebello and summoned Washington’s Chargé d’Affaires to lodge a protest, CNN reported, citing sources at India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
U.S. Central Command reported that a U.S. aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces.
CENTCOM described the action as part of an ongoing blockade targeting vessels attempting to transport Iranian oil.
The U.S. military reported that since the blockade began on April 13, U.S. forces had disabled eight non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships and allowed 42 humanitarian aid vessels to pass.
Source: CNN
