U.S. Hits 3rd Tanker Off Oman in a Week as 3 Indian Sailors Are Confirmed Dead
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 11
U.S. Hits 3rd Tanker Off Oman in a Week as 3 Indian Sailors Are Confirmed Dead
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 11
Summary
U.S. forces struck another commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, the third attack in a week on ships with Indian crews.
Centcom said the vessels violated its Iran blockade and ignored U.S. directions; Oman’s military rescued dozens of seafarers from the damaged ships.
Three Indian crew members missing after Wednesday’s strike on the Settebello were found dead, the first merchant sailors killed since the blockade began in April.
India summoned the U.S. Embassy’s deputy chief of mission to protest, while saying 20 Indian sailors were rescued from the Jalveer after Thursday’s attack.
Nine noncompliant ships have been disabled since April, and the incidents carry wider weight for India, which supplies about 12% of the global merchant-shipping workforce.
How can neutral nations protect citizens caught in the crossfire of a U.S. naval blockade targeting Iran?
Beyond fuel prices, what are the hidden economic shocks from the blockade of the world's most vital oil chokepoint?
Is the U.S. blockade redrawing the rules of maritime law and freedom of navigation for global trade?
Blockade in the Gulf of Oman: U.S. Strikes, Indian Deaths, and the Global Impact of the Strait of Hormuz Closure
Overview
The report details how the United States, starting April 13, enforced a blockade on Iran’s ports to disrupt illicit maritime activities, especially targeting a 'shadow fleet' of older ships transporting sanctioned oil under various flags. U.S. Central Command has disabled or redirected numerous non-compliant vessels while allowing humanitarian aid through, highlighting the complexity of distinguishing legitimate shipping from sanctioned cargo. This aggressive enforcement has led to international incidents, casualties among seafarers, and heightened global tensions, especially as Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz, raising serious concerns for global energy security and maritime safety.