Two Indian sailors are missing after a tanker was attacked off Oman on Sunday. A second tanker was also struck on the same day in the Strait of Hormuz, but the Indian crew on board were unharmed.
New Delhi condemned the strikes on the two commercial vessels. The Nicaragua-flagged MT Petro Dolphin was reportedly struck by a drone at Sohar Anchorage on October 11. Nine of the 11 Indian crew members were rescued and are safe, while Oman’s Coast Guard is searching for the other two, Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said. Another tanker, the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Valthera, was hit by an unidentified projectile while passing through the Strait of Hormuz the same day, causing a fire on board. All Indian seafarers aboard the vessel were reported safe. India’s embassy in Muscat is coordinating with the Omani authorities and the respective ship management companies to locate the missing sailors and assist the crews, the Indian Foreign Ministry said. “The recurring attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply concerning,” the ministry said, warning that they risk further aggravating tensions.
Statement on the attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz region ⬇️ 🔗 https://t.co/SqBo213LvT https://t.co/t4zJMeZSdZ
New Delhi called for immediate de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy, stressing that attacks on commercial vessels, seafarers, and civilian infrastructure must stop.Indian crews have been caught in several recent attacks. On October 9, the Panama-flagged tanker MT Gem No. 2 was struck at Sharjah Anchorage in the United Arab Emirates, but all 22 Indian sailors aboard were reported safe.Three days earlier, 11 Indian seafarers were among 12 crew members injured when the Panama-flagged tanker MT On Peace was hit by an unidentified projectile off Oman.
Tanker-related security incidents in the Strait of Hormuz have reached their highest weekly level since the Middle East conflict began in February. At least 12 incidents, including attacks, attempted attacks, and harassment, were recorded between September 28 and October 5, Reuters reported, citing maritime security sources.The risks to Indian nationals have extended beyond commercial shipping. An Indian national died following Saturday’s missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while at least ten other Indians were injured.The airport was struck again on Sunday, killing a Pakistani national, according to Saudi authorities. Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attacks.
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