Key facts
- The US military attacked a third merchant vessel with Indian crew members off Oman.
- Three Indian sailors have been killed in prior US strikes on tankers.
- India has registered strong protests with the US regarding the attacks.
- Vessels involved in the incidents allegedly switched off their automatic identification systems.
- The US is willing to assist Indian crew if vessels identify themselves.
The US military has attacked a third merchant vessel with Indian crew members onboard off the coast of Oman this week, with a common thread emerging of the vessels switching off their automatic identification system (AIS) and refusing to identify themselves and their crew members when hailed. Indian crew members from MT Janveer had to be evacuated on Thursday after it came under fire from US forces for allegedly trying to dodge a blockade of Iran, raising fresh protests from India. Three Indians have already been killed in the strikes while several others were rescued in coordination with Omani authorities.
Previously, US forces had blocked Iranian ports since April 13. Three Indian seafarers were killed in a US attack off the Oman coast. India confirmed three sailors died in a US strike on the MT Settebello, protesting the attack and summoning a US diplomat. A third Indian-crewed tanker, the Jalveer, was hit off Oman in a suspected US strike, with all 20 crew safe. An Indian official confirmed three sailors died in a U.S. operation enforcing its blockade of Iran. India's shipping ministry confirmed all 20 crew members of the Jalveer tanker are safe following a suspected US strike. India has protested to the US after three sailors died in an attack on a tanker and demands the US halt strikes on shipping. US Central Command confirmed a third strike on an Indian-crewed tanker, the Jalveer, which had its engine room hit by missiles. A video shows the US strike on the MT Settebello tanker, which killed three Indian sailors. The US military struck three tankers in three days, killing three Indian sailors and causing fires on two vessels. India has issued a strong protest and named the three Indian sailors killed in a US strike on the MT Settebello tanker.
It is understood that the US is willing to assist and ensure the safety of Indian crew members if the vessel identifies itself and shares information with military authorities. The case of the Botswana-flagged oil vessel, Skywave Legacy, with Indian crew members, was seized by the US in the Indian Ocean for alleged links to Iranian oil transfer. However, the Indian crew members were safely repatriated to India through Port Blair as the vessel identified itself as well as the nationality of its crew.