India Summons US Diplomat After Second Gulf Attack in Three Days Leaves Three Sailors Missing

10/06/2026

NEW DELHI, Jun 10: India on Wednesday summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, Jason Meeks, and lodged a strong protest following a second attack on a commercial vessel in three days near the Omani coast that left three Indian sailors missing.

According to official sources, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the incident as “deeply worrisome,” stating that it was a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict in the region and raising serious concerns over the safety of Indian nationals at sea.

The vessel, identified as Settebello, reportedly had around 24 Indian crew members onboard when it was struck. Twenty-one sailors were rescued, while three remain missing as search and rescue operations continue with coordination from Indian and Omani authorities.

The MEA said India’s Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and working with local agencies to locate the missing crew members.

This latest incident comes just days after an earlier attack on the tanker M/T Marivex, which was described by the US Central Command as a “non-compliant” vessel. The successive incidents have heightened diplomatic tensions amid growing concerns over maritime security in the region.

The ministry reiterated its call for an immediate end to attacks on commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure, warning that such incidents pose a grave risk to innocent lives and international trade routes.

Meanwhile, maritime security sources cited in reports suggested the vessel may have been hit by a US missile, though there has been no official confirmation from Washington regarding the latest incident.