India says US hit another ship off Oman, confirms 3 dead in separate attack

Three Indian sailors are confirmed killed as the country reports a separate incident involving a vessel ⁠⁠off Shinas port in Oman, the third attack linked to the United States this week.

The latest maritime incident against Guinea-Bissau flagged MT Jalveer came the day after the US military fired on a Palau-flagged MT Settebello, also off the coast of Oman.

Settebello had 24 Indian sailors on board; three who were reported missing on Wednesday were confirmed killed on Thursday.

The US attacks on vessels with Indian seafarers come at a time when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold bilateral ‌‌talks with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit next week.

“It is deeply unfortunate to learn of the tragic incident aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello,” India’s Shipping Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, said in a statement on Thursday, referring to the strike on Wednesday.

“Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after bodies have been located and identified,” he said.

“I have directed officials to ensure immediate repatriation of the rescued crew members and swift return of the mortal remains of the deceased for their final rites,” he added.

Quoting Manoj Yadav, general secretary of the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), Indian news outlet The Hindu reported that the deceased include deck cadet Aditya Sharma, engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya and Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh.

India’s foreign ministry summoned a top US diplomat in New Delhi after the Settebello attack on Wednesday to lodge “a strong protest”.

The US military earlier said ⁠⁠it attacked the Marivex and Settebello, both tankers with Indian crew.

All crew safe in latest incident

On Thursday, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters that the Guinea-Bissau flagged Jalveer was attacked ‌‌by the US Navy. Soon after the US ⁠military ⁠confirmed it had disabled a third oil ⁠tanker in the Gulf of Oman overnight .

“US Central Command (CENTCOM) acted against Guinea-Bissau flagged M/T Jalveer as ⁠it attempted to ⁠transport oil from Iran through the Gulf of Oman. A US ⁠aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles ⁠into the ship’s ⁠engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions ‌from US forces,” CENTCOM said in a ‌statement.

The vessel’s crew sent a distress call off the Omani port ⁠⁠of Shinas after a fire broke out around its engine room and funnel, said Vanguard, a British maritime risk management company.