DUBAI: US forces carried out an airstrike on an Indian oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, rendering the vessel inoperative, according to Reuters.
The US military said the tanker attempted to transfer oil from Iran in violation of an American blockade. The strike targeted the ship’s engine room after the crew reportedly failed to comply with repeated instructions from US forces.
Following the incident, India summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US embassy in New Delhi to lodge a formal protest. Indian authorities described the attack as a serious violation of international norms and demanded immediate clarification.
The attack resulted in a fire aboard the tanker, and three Indian crew members are reported missing. Of the 28-person crew, 24 were Indian nationals.
Reuters reported that the situation has heightened tensions in the strategic Gulf of Oman corridor, a critical route for global oil shipments.
