U.S. Intercepts Iranian Oil Smuggling Tanker in Enforced Blockade, Killing 3 Indian Crew
U.S. forces struck the MT Settebello on Wednesday, killing three crew members. India summoned the deputy head of the U.S. mission in Delhi after the incident.
U.S. forces struck the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, killing three Indian sailors. U.S. Central Command said an aircraft fired precision munitions into the tanker's engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to follow directions.
Post by @MarioNawfal on X
U.S. blockade that began on 13 April. Twenty-four Indian crew members were aboard the MT Settebello. Twenty-one were rescued, and the bodies of the three who died will be returned to India, according to Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Sonowal described the incident as "deeply unfortunate" in a post on X. U.S. mission in Delhi. The government stated that targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end.
Manoj Yadav, general secretary of the Forward Seamen's Union of India, told The Economic Times that detaining the ships would have been a viable alternative if they failed to heed instructions. U.S. forces this week.
U.S. forces hit the Palau-flagged tanker The Marivex in the same area after it failed to comply with instructions; all 24 crew members on that vessel were rescued by Omani authorities.
U.S. Centcom posted what it said was footage of the strike on the ship's engine room.
