India Demarches US Diplomat Over Damaged Tanker and Missing Crew

A missile strike on the Palau-flagged oil tanker Settebello near the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a diplomatic standoff between New Delhi and Washington. While 21 of the 24 Indian crew members aboard the vessel have been rescued, three remain missing following the attack, prompting an immediate summons of the US charge d'affaires.

Editorial·June 10, 2026·reads: 3,522

India Demarches US Diplomat Over Damaged Tanker and Missing Crew

Nagaraj Naidu, additional secretary in India's Foreign Ministry, summoned Jason Meeks to protest the incident, which occurred roughly 20 nautical miles off the coast of Sohar. The tanker sustained significant damage when a projectile struck its engine room, igniting a fire that forced the crew to issue a distress call.

The situation escalated following a statement from the US Central Command, which acknowledged that American forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after claiming the vessel breached a naval blockade. The Indian Embassy in Oman is currently coordinating with local authorities to locate the three missing sailors as the rescue operation continues.