• Three Indian sailors confirmed dead following a US military attack on the tanker Settebello.
• A total of 24 Indian crew members were aboard; 21 were rescued.
• India has lodged a strong protest with the US government over the incident.
• This attack is part of a series of US engagements affecting Indian-flagged vessels in the region.
• US alleges vessels violated its blockade on Iran's oil transport.

The US military has confirmed a strike on the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello in the Gulf of Oman, resulting in the deaths of three Indian sailors previously reported missing. India’s Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal stated that “the incident is deeply unfortunate” and emphasized the government's commitment to support the affected families during this difficult time, according to BBC and South China Morning Post.

On June 6, the US military initiated the strike based on allegations that the tanker was not complying with American directives while reportedly attempting to transport Iranian oil, a claim that has been met with significant concern from the Indian government. The incident led to the Indian foreign ministry summoning a senior US official to lodge a “strong protest” against these military actions, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.

Indian authorities reported that of the 24 crew members aboard the Settebello, 21 were successfully rescued, while the search for the missing sailors was frantic until their identities were confirmed deceased on June 8. The crew's recovery efforts were coordinated with Omani naval forces, as indicated by Reuters and CBS News.

This attack marked the second instance this week in which a US strike involved Indian crew members, as another tanker, the MT Marivex, also faced a similar fate just days earlier. Both attacks have raised alarms regarding the safety of Indian sailors operating in regions marked by heightened military tensions and ongoing conflict, as noted by Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye.