Indian authorities confirmed this Thursday the death of three sailors who had been declared missing on Wednesday after an attack by the United States Army against a tanker sailing off the coast of Oman.
"It is deeply regrettable to learn of the tragic incident aboard the 'M/T Settebello', flying the flag of Palau," said India's Minister of Ports and Shipping, Sarbananda Sonowal. "Regrettably, the deaths of three Indian sailors initially reported missing have been confirmed, following the location and identification of their bodies," he added.
"This is a profound loss for our maritime community," he stated in a message on social media, where he conveyed the condolences of the Government of India to the families of the victims. "We are fully committed to providing them with support," he emphasized.
Likewise, Sonowal stressed that he had ordered the "immediate repatriation" of the rescued crew members and the mortal remains of the deceased. The tanker was carrying 28 crew members on board, 24 of whom were Indian citizens, at the time of the attack.
For his part, the spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed that New Delhi has summoned the United States' chargé d'affaires to present a "strong protest" over what happened, while emphasizing that "the continued attacks against shipping in the region are deeply concerning and a direct result of the conflict in the region."
"These attacks must stop. We also call for dialogue and diplomacy to ensure a swift return to peace and stability in the region," said Jaiswal, who stated that Indian authorities "place great importance on the well-being of the sailor community."
The United States Army Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Wednesday that its forces "immobilized" and fired upon the tanker 'M/T Settebello' as it transited the Gulf of Oman for disobeying US orders, as part of its blockade of Iran around the Strait of Hormuz.
Thus, it specified in a statement that "a US aircraft fired precision munitions at the vessel's engine room after the crew repeatedly disobeyed instructions from US forces."
After that, the Indian Ministry condemned the attack and confirmed the rescue of 21 sailors. "The continuous attacks against ships in the region are extremely worrying and a direct consequence of the conflict that is developing in the area," it concluded.