India has summoned a senior US diplomat in New Delhi after a Palau-flagged vessel carrying 24 Indian sailors came under attack off the coast of Oman, leaving three Indian crew members missing, according to media reports.
India's Ministry of External Affairs said Jason Meeks, the deputy head of the US Embassy in New Delhi, had been called in following the incident.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), a "precision strike" was conducted on a vessel identified as "Settebello" on Tuesday evening. US officials alleged that the ship failed to comply with orders issued by American forces.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the vessel caught fire in its engine room and transmitted a distress signal about 37 kilometres northeast of Sohar, a port city in Oman.
The Omani navy later joined rescue efforts. India's foreign ministry said 21 Indian sailors had been rescued, while three remained missing.
In a statement, New Delhi said its embassy in Oman was coordinating with local authorities and closely monitoring rescue operations. India also called for the protection of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemned actions that endanger seafarers and global maritime safety.
He expressed concern over the incident and extended his sympathies to the families of the missing sailors.
Analysts say the episode could raise fresh legal and diplomatic questions about US operations involving Iranian-linked shipping and may add pressure to India-US relations.
