Three Indian sailors are dead after US military forces struck an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on June 10, a move that has drawn sharp condemnation from New Delhi and raised serious questions about the human cost of Washington’s campaign to choke off Iranian crude exports.
The vessel, a Palau-flagged tanker called the MT Settebello, was hit with precision munitions roughly 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s port of Sohar. All 24 crew members aboard were Indian nationals.
What happened
US Central Command reported that the MT Settebello was targeted after its crew allegedly ignored repeated directives to cease its approach. The US military suspected the tanker was attempting to illegally transport Iranian oil in violation of an ongoing American blockade designed to restrict Iran’s petroleum exports.
Of the 24 Indian crew members on board, 21 were rescued by Omani authorities. Three sailors were reported missing or confirmed dead.
