The United States military carried out a missile strike on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after issuing nearly 60 verbal warnings and conducting eight aerial demonstrations of force, according to intelligence and military reports cited by the Associated Press (AP). The incident resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors.
The targeted vessel, the Palau-flagged tanker M/T Settebello, was struck on Wednesday by US Central Command (Centcom) forces. The US military said the ship was part of a so-called “shadow fleet” allegedly used to bypass international sanctions by transporting Iranian oil in violation of restrictions linked to the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
US Says Crew Ignored Repeated Warnings Over Two Weeks
According to US officials, American naval and air forces tracked the tanker for nearly two weeks. During this period, they repeatedly communicated with the vessel and issued instructions to turn back. However, the crew reportedly failed to comply with multiple warnings. The situation escalated on Wednesday when US forces issued two final direct warnings before taking action.
Centcom stated that the crew was given a 15-minute evacuation window to leave the engine room. After the deadline passed, US aircraft fired precision-guided munitions at the compartment, which disabled the ship. “After being in place for more than 60 days, it should be clear by now that US forces will strictly enforce the blockade,” Centcom stated following the strike.
Three Indian Sailors Killed, Several Rescued
The strike had deadly consequences for the crew on board. Out of 24 Indian nationals, 21 were rescued by regional authorities, while three sailors died in the engine room explosion. The deceased were identified as Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh, Deck Cadet Aditya Sharma, and Engine Fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya. The incident has triggered strong diplomatic tensions between India and the United States.
India Lodges Strong Protest With Washington
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly condemned the attack and raised the issue directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “Spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this evening,” Jaishankar posted on X. “I reiterated India’s strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified.”
In addition, India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks in New Delhi and issued a formal diplomatic protest. India stressed that civilian maritime workers must not become casualties in geopolitical disputes.
Ship Management Company Rejects US Version of Events
The management company of the tanker, Dubai-based IOS Marine FZE, disputed the US military’s account of the incident. The firm claimed the M/T Settebello had been stationary for around ten days before the strike and was not carrying out any movements that would justify military action. It held the US Navy responsible for the deaths and demanded an independent international investigation. The company also estimated that the attack caused more than $35 million in damages to the vessel.
Maritime Union Questions US Intelligence
Concerns were also raised by maritime worker representatives. Manoj Yadav, General Secretary of the Forward Seamen’s Union of India, questioned the justification for the strike. He argued that international forces should detain non-compliant ships rather than use lethal force against civilian crews. He also expressed doubt that US forces were unaware of the nationality of those on board.
Rising Tensions After Controversial Maritime Strike
The incident has intensified tensions between New Delhi and Washington while raising broader questions about military conduct in maritime enforcement operations. With conflicting accounts from the US military, ship managers, and maritime unions, calls for an independent investigation continue to grow.