In a missile attack by the American military on the commercial oil tanker ‘M/T Settebello’ (flying the flag of Palau) near the coast of Oman in the Gulf of Oman, the three Indian sailors who had earlier gone missing have been confirmed dead.
SNPNEWS.IN News (Gurmail Kamboj): The US-Israel-Iran war, which began on 28 February 2026 after the US and Israel carried out missile strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other leaders and officials, saw Iran subsequently targeting US air bases in Gulf countries and several locations in Israel. In addition, after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz — a critical route for more than 20% of the world’s oil and gas supply — leading to an energy crisis worldwide, a ceasefire was announced on 8 April 2026 between the US, Israel, and Iran.
After several rounds of talks between the leaders of the US, Iran, and Israel, the ceasefire fully ended on 9 July 2026. Following this, military operations between the US and Iran resumed. During this period, on the night of 8-9 June at 11:14 PM, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) issued orders to the Indian commercial ship M/T Settebello to stop while enforcing a US naval blockade against Iran in the Gulf of Oman. After the ship’s crew allegedly repeatedly failed to comply with the instructions, the US forces carried out a precision airstrike targeting the ship’s engine room with a missile, causing a massive fire.
During the attack, out of the 24 crew members on board, Omani security forces helped rescue 21 Indian sailors safely, while 3 Indians went missing. On 11 June, the bodies of the three missing Indians — Aditya Sharma (Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh), Shivanand Chaurasia (Uttar Pradesh), and Patnala Suresh (Chief Engineer, Andhra Pradesh) — were recovered, and their identities have been confirmed.
India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, has officially confirmed the recovery of the bodies of the three missing Indian sailors and their deaths.
The Indian government has expressed serious concern and strong displeasure over the incident. India summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission (Deputy Ambassador) of the US mission in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest. The Ministry of External Affairs has demanded an immediate end to actions targeting commercial ships and civilian infrastructure in international sea lanes. The central government has issued strict instructions to bring the remaining 21 sailors back to the country soon and to repatriate the bodies of the deceased.
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Following the American attack on the Indian oil tanker ‘M/T Settebello’ and the deaths of three Indian sailors, a major debate has erupted in the country’s political corridors and among defence experts regarding India’s current foreign policy. Opposition parties and several diplomats have described the government’s policy as “weak and failed.”
Critics argue that despite the US directly firing a missile at an Indian ship and killing three Indian citizens, the Indian government only summoned the US Deputy Ambassador and lodged a formal protest. The lack of any strong economic or diplomatic retaliation against America is being seen as a sign of weakness.
Despite the significant presence of the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf region, India failed to ensure the safety of Indian sailors in a vital commercial route like the Gulf of Oman. Questions are being raised about India’s declining influence in the region.
US President Donald Trump, in a statement, justified the attack, claiming that the Indian ship did not follow orders to stop. India’s failure to strongly refute Trump’s claim and its perceived softening under US pressure is being viewed as a failure of foreign policy.
India has always followed a policy of maintaining good relations with both the US and Iran (a Balancing Act). However, in this war, while Iran’s actions have caused India to face an oil crisis, American strikes have claimed Indian lives. Critics say that India’s balancing policy is now proving ineffective.