The U.S. military stated that the aircraft targeted the vessel after the crew repeatedly ignored commands to halt during a blockade initiated on April 13. According to CENTCOM, this operation is part of a broader enforcement effort that has seen 135 ships redirected and nine vessels disabled for non-compliance. Reports from Iran’s Mehr news agency indicate that five of the 20 crew members were rescued by passing craft and transported to Oman following the strike.
New Delhi has issued a sharp rebuke regarding the escalating violence against merchant sailors. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the trend as deeply worrisome, noting that the government summoned the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to register a formal protest. The diplomatic tension follows the loss of three Indian nationals during a separate attack on the Palau-flagged Settebello, and an earlier fire aboard the M/T Marivex, which carried 24 Indian seafarers. India continues to demand accountability for the safety of its citizens operating within the Gulf of Oman.
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