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Three ships attacked by the US in three days: What we know

June 11, 2026

The US military has struck three tankers in the Gulf of Oman over a three-day period, resulting in at least three deaths and prompting strong condemnation from India. American forces claim the vessels violated a naval blockade of Iranian ports that began on April 13, following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil transport. The attacks involved precision missiles targeting engine rooms, forcing crew evacuations and raising serious concerns about the safety of civilian seafarers caught in geopolitical conflicts.

Who is affected

  • Three Indian sailors killed on the tanker Settebello
  • 24 Indian crew rescued from the Marivex
  • 20 Indian sailors evacuated from the Jalveer
  • Nearly 300,000 Indian seafarers serving globally
  • More than 18,000 Indian seafarers currently in the Gulf region
  • Crews aboard 13 Indian-flagged vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz
  • Commercial shipping companies (IOS Marine FZE, Aqua Aurora Shipping Lines, Arihant Shipping Inc)
  • The Indian government
  • Countries dependent on oil and gas transport through the Strait of Hormuz (approximately 20% of world supplies)

What action is being taken

  • The US military is blockading Iranian ports
  • US forces are firing missiles at tankers alleged to be violating the blockade
  • The Omani navy is conducting rescue operations for affected crews
  • India's foreign ministry has summoned the US embassy deputy head to lodge an official protest
  • Seafarers' unions are calling for better protection for maritime workers
  • The US has disabled nine vessels and redirected 135 more since the blockade began

Why it matters

  • This situation matters because civilian maritime workers are being killed and endangered in what amounts to a conflict zone, despite having minimal influence over geopolitical decisions. The blockade and strikes threaten a critical global energy chokepoint, as the Strait of Hormuz normally transports about 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies. The incidents are straining US-India relations at a time when those ties are already described as passing through a difficult phase. The attacks highlight the vulnerability of commercial shipping and seafarers who find themselves trapped between major powers, with potentially severe consequences for global trade and energy security.

What's next

  • India will quickly repatriate the bodies of the three killed sailors
  • The company managing Settebello is calling on the US to release evidence of its communications with the ship
  • India-US friction may increase if attacks intensify, though experts suggest there won't be a fundamental rupture in ties

Read full article from source: BBC

Three ships attacked by the US in three days: What we know