• Three Indian sailors confirmed dead after a US military strike on the tanker MT Settebello.
• Twenty-one crew members were rescued following the attack, with efforts ongoing to recover the bodies.
• India's government summoned a US diplomat to protest the attack amid rising tensions in the region.

The US military has confirmed a strike on the Palau-flagged oil tanker, MT Settebello, which it accused of violating a blockade while transporting oil from Iran. The strike, which took place in the Gulf of Oman, resulted in the tragic deaths of three Indian sailors, with India’s Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal calling it "deeply unfortunate." Twenty-one out of 24 Indian crew members were rescued from the vessel, while the search for the missing seafarers was launched immediately, according to BBC and India Times.

In the wake of the incident, India summoned Jason Meeks, deputy chief of the US mission in New Delhi, to lodge a "strong protest" against the attack on its crew members. Indian officials, including the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), condemned the strike, asserting that the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure must cease, as similar incidents have occurred since the escalation of conflict in the region. This action was outlined by Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.

Previously, the Indian government emphasized that the situation poses an increasing risk to Indian seafarers amid ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. These concerns are exacerbated by the fact that two similar incidents involving US strikes on vessels with Indian crews have been reported this week, including the attack on another tanker, the MT Marivex, just days earlier, leading to calls for diplomatic resolutions to reduce maritime risk, as noted by South China Morning Post and India Times.

The Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) has echoed concerns about the safety of its seafarers, questioning the actions taken by US forces and underscoring the importance of safeguarding lives on the sea. Union General Secretary Manoj Yadav criticized the lack of viable alternatives to military action, emphasizing the need for better communication and adherence to international norms for safe passage, according to BBC and South China Morning Post.