The Attack and Missing Crew
The US military fired "precision munitions" into the engine room of the Palau-flagged Settebello on Tuesday evening, according to US Central Command. The strike left three Indian sailors missing and 21 crew members rescued after the vessel reported an engine room fire 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman's port of Sohar. US Central Command said the aircraft attacked after the crew "repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces."
India's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, stating that "the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end." The Omani navy responded to the Settebello's distress call, and India's embassy in Oman is coordinating with Omani authorities in the ongoing search and rescue operation.
The US Blockade of Iran
The US military initiated a naval blockade of Iran on April 13. US Central Command said the Settebello was attempting to transport oil from Iran in violation of American restrictions. US Central Command said the blockade aims to prevent Tehran from accessing its ports after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which some 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies are transported.
Since initiating the blockade, US forces have disabled eight vessels and redirected 134 others, according to Centcom. President Donald Trump ordered the blockade in mid-April in an attempt to force Tehran to accept terms for a permanent end to the conflict.
Escalating Tensions and Diplomatic Fallout
The Indian government summoned Jason Meeks, the US Embassy's deputy chief of mission in New Delhi, to protest the strike. This marks the second attack on a Palau-flagged vessel with an Indian crew in days. Earlier this week, US forces fired on the Marivex, another Palau-flagged oil tanker with an Indian crew. All 24 crew members aboard the Marivex were rescued by the Omani military.
Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the UN's International Maritime Organization, condemned the attack, saying "any act from any party that endangers the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping" is "simply unacceptable." He added that his thoughts were with the families of the three missing seafarers.
The strikes have intensified questions about the legality and ethics of the US naval blockade and could further damage India-US ties, which experts say are already at their lowest point in decades. The Indian government faced mounting pressure from opposition parties to publicly challenge the US over the Settebello strike, following the earlier attack on the Marivex.
