A visual of the Palau-flagged oil tanker MT Settebello, with 24 Indian seafarers on board, attacked by US forces off the coast of Oman, near Strait of Hormuz, on Wednesday (June 10). 21 Indian seafarers rescued, while 3 are reportedly missing. (Forward Seamen’s Union of India/ANI Video Grab) | Photo Credit: ANI

A Guinea-Bissau-flagged asphalt tanker, MV Jalveer, was attacked by the American military off the coast of Oman on Thursday.

This marks the third merchant vessel manned by an Indian crew to be targeted by US forces in just four days. While no casualties were reported in Thursday’s strike, an earlier attack this week left three Indian seafarers dead.

The sequence of attacks began on June 8, when US forces disabled a Palau-flagged oil tanker, the Marivex, which was carrying 24 Indian seafarers; all crew members were safely rescued. On June 10, the US military struck another Palau-flagged tanker, the Settebello, killing three of the 24 Indian sailors on board.

Following Wednesday’s fatal strike, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks to hand him a démarche. “We attach high importance to the welfare and well-being of our seafaring community. When this particular attack on the ship MT Settebello occurred, we lodged a strong protest with the American side,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Published on June 11, 2026