India Demands End to U.S. Navy Strikes on Ships

Key Takeaways

India protested U.S. Navy attacks on three merchant vessels off Oman, citing violations of international law.
Three Indian nationals died on the tanker Settebello, while others were rescued from disabled ships.
Delhi urges diplomatic resolution and unimpeded navigation through the critical Strait of Hormuz.

India on Thursday, June 11, 2026, issued a stern diplomatic protest to the United States regarding the recent military strikes against three merchant vessels operating in the waters off the coast of Oman. This incident marks the first public acknowledgment by New Delhi that the U.S. Navy had targeted these specific commercial ships, which were carrying significant numbers of Indian seafarers. The confrontation has escalated tensions, resulting in the death of three Indian nationals and raising urgent concerns about the safety of maritime workers in the region. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized that such attacks must cease immediately to prevent further loss of life and ensure the stability of global shipping routes.

The series of violent encounters began on June 8, when U.S. forces disabled the Palau-flagged oil tanker Marivex, which was carrying 24 Indian seafarers. All crew members on board were safely rescued, but the incident set a precedent for subsequent attacks. Two days later, on June 10, the U.S. military struck another Palau-flagged tanker, the Settebello. This attack resulted in the tragic death of three Indian sailors out of the 24 crew members on board. The MEA summoned U.S. Charge d'Affaires Jason Meeks to deliver a demarche, a formal diplomatic note of protest, expressing New Delhi's deepest concern over these ongoing incidents. The ministry reiterated its high importance on the welfare of its seafaring community and made its position clear: the targeting of commercial shipping must stop.

The most recent incident occurred on Thursday, June 11, when the Jalveer, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker carrying 20 Indians, was also attacked. U.S. Central Command later confirmed that the Jalveer was disabled after a combat aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into its engine room. The military stated that the crew had repeatedly failed to comply with directions from U.S. forces and had violated the blockade against Iran by attempting to transport Iranian oil. This justification highlights the complex geopolitical backdrop of the strikes, which are linked to broader conflicts in West Asia and U.S. sanctions enforcement. The MEA noted that while the ships were foreign-flagged-two Palau and one Guinea-Bissau-they were not Indian-owned, yet they carried many Indian nationals who are subject to the risks of the conflict.