An Indian sailor was killed after an India-flagged cargo ship came under attack off the coast of Oman amid unrest in the Middle East. The multi-purpose support vessel, identified as Al Jusufi, had 14 Indian seafarers on board when it came under attack by an unidentified aerial object while navigating the Omani coast, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.
This incident follows a series of persistent attacks on merchant ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, which escalated after hostilities erupted between the US and Iran in February. It underscores the continued risk for vessels navigating around the Gulf waters as the global economy grapples with an energy shortfall amid upheaval in the Middle East.
The minister extended his condolences to the dead sailor’s family and said the Ministry of Shipping and the Indian Embassy in Oman were in contact with local authorities to ensure immediate assistance for the 13 survivors and facilitate the swift repatriation of both the surviving crew and the remains of the dead seafarer.
