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Three Indian sailors killed in US strike on oil tanker

June 11, 2026

The US military has struck three commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman this week for allegedly violating its blockade of Iranian ports, resulting in the deaths of three Indian sailors and placing hundreds more at risk. All three ships—the MT Settebello, Marivex, and MT Jalveer—carried predominantly Indian crews despite being registered under foreign flags, with the Settebello attack killing a cadet, fitter, and chief engineer. India has lodged formal protests with the US over the strikes, questioning why detention wasn't used instead of military force against commercial vessels.

Who is affected

  • Three deceased Indian sailors: Aditya Sharma (cadet), Shivanand Chaurashiya (fitter), and Patnala Suresh (chief engineer)
  • 69 Indian crew members across the three struck vessels (24 on MT Settebello, 24 on Marivex, 20 on MT Jalveer, with one casualty count including the deceased)
  • Families of the deceased sailors, including Rajesh Sharma (father of Aditya Sharma)
  • More than 18,000 Indian seafarers working in the Gulf region, including 562 on Indian-flagged vessels
  • The Indian government and its diplomatic representatives
  • Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) and its members
  • Commercial shipping operators in the Gulf of Oman region

What action is being taken

  • The US military is enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports and has disabled eight vessels and redirected 134 others since April 13
  • The Omani military and Royal Navy of Oman are conducting rescue and evacuation operations for affected crew members
  • India is lodging formal protests with the US, having called in the American chargé d'affaires
  • The Forward Seamen's Union of India is reaching out to families of deceased sailors
  • The US and Iran are exchanging strikes for a second consecutive day

Why it matters

  • This situation highlights the extreme dangers faced by civilian maritime workers caught in geopolitical conflicts, particularly the thousands of Indian seafarers employed on international vessels in conflict zones. The strikes raise serious questions about proportionality in military responses to blockade violations, as commercial vessels with civilian crews were targeted with lethal force rather than being detained. The incidents strain US-India relations despite their strategic partnership, while demonstrating how regional conflicts between major powers can have deadly consequences for third-party nationals. The strikes also threaten global energy security, as they occur near the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies transit.

What's next

  • The bodies of the three deceased Indian sailors will be brought home soon
  • The circumstances leading to the deaths will be investigated, as demanded by the victims' families
  • India's shipping ministry is monitoring the situation for the 562 Indian seafarers on Indian-flagged vessels in the region
  • The US and Iran continue their military confrontation with ongoing exchange of strikes

Read full article from source: BBC