Three Indian sailors are missing after Oman rescued 21 others following a US attack on the Palau-flagged ship Settebello.
Published June 10, 2026
India has summoned a senior US diplomat after the US military opened fire on a Palau-flagged vessel with 24 Indian sailors on board off the coast of Oman, leaving three Indian sailors missing.
India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Al Jazeera on Wednesday that it had summoned Jason Meeks, the deputy minister at the US Embassy in New Delhi.
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The U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Tuesday night that it had carried out a “precision” attack on the Settebello, which was sailing in the Gulf of Oman carrying Iranian oil, alleging that the crew had disobeyed instructions from the U.S. military.
The ship, a chemical and petroleum products tanker, reported an engine room fire 20 nautical miles (about 37 kilometers) north-east of the Omani port of Sohar, Britain’s Maritime Trade Service said.
The Omani navy responded to the Settebello’s distress call, according to British maritime emergency management group Vanguard.
India’s foreign ministry said 21 Indian sailors had been rescued and three were missing, condemning the violence and calling for an end to attacks on commercial vessels and civilian infrastructure in the region.
“The Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and actively coordinating with Omani authorities in the ongoing search and rescue operations,” the ministry said in a statement. “The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must stop.”
Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations’ shipping agency, on Wednesday condemned “any party’s actions that endanger the lives of seafarers and the security of international shipping.”
“This is completely unacceptable. Our thoughts are with the families of the three missing seafarers and all those on board who are waiting for news of their fate,” he said.
The incident intensified legal and ethical questions surrounding the U.S. naval blockade of Iran, which has adversely affected U.S. allies. Relations between India and the US could also deteriorate further, with experts saying they are already at their worst in decades.
pressure from the opposition
India’s government has come under increasing pressure from rebels to publicly challenge the United States over the attack, after it failed to protest another attack by the U.S. military on a ship carrying Indian sailors earlier this week.
At least two Indian-flagged vessels have been attacked since the US-Israel war against Iran began on February 28. India summoned Iran’s ambassador in April following the attack.
President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of Iran in mid-April with the aim of forcing Tehran to accept the terms of a deal that would permanently end the war.
The blockade is believed to have significantly reduced Iran’s oil exports, but Iranian officials show no signs of giving in to Washington’s demands.
