India called in a US diplomat to formally protest a military strike on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, an incident that put 24 Indian seafarers in harm’s way and added another layer of friction to an already volatile geopolitical picture in the region.
The strike, carried out on June 8, targeted the Palau-flagged tanker MT Marivex after the vessel allegedly attempted to breach a US-enforced blockade aimed at Iranian ports. An F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln fired a precision munition at the ship’s engineering and steering areas. The tanker caught fire.
What happened in the Gulf of Oman
The MT Marivex was no stranger to controversy. The vessel had been previously sanctioned for its links to Iranian oil trade, and its attempted run through the blockade made it the seventh ship disabled under intensified US enforcement operations in the region.
After the strike ignited a fire onboard, the crew issued distress calls detailing both the attack and the blaze. Omani military helicopters carried out the rescue operation, pulling all 24 crew members to safety.
