The United States military has confirmed attacking an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman carrying 24 Indian crew members aboard, saying it attempted to sail to an Iranian port in violation of an ongoing naval blockade against Iran, Indian media reported on Tuesday.
The MT Marivex, a Palau-flagged vessel, was operating in waters close to the strategically important Strait of Hormuz when it was hit by a projectile off the Omani coast. Authorities said the crew was evacuated as a precautionary measure after the fire was reported on board.
Indian Navy helicopters evacuated all Indian sailors safely after the vessel sent out an SOS signal. The incident came amid broader tensions in the region, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
In a statement, the US Central Command said it disabled an unladen oil tanker after the vessel violated the ongoing blockade against Iran by attempting to sail to an Iranian port.
“An F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) fired a precision munition into the ship’s engineering and steering spaces after the crew failed to comply with directions from US forces. Marivex is no longer sailing to Iran,” it said.
CENTCOM said it had disabled seven non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass since initiating the blockade on April 13.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded to the incident, saying its embassy was coordinating with Omani authorities for the rescue of Indian sailors from the ship.
“We also understand that there was some exchange of communication between the ship and the US Navy before the incident,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
“There were 24 crew members onboard the ship, all being Indian nationals. All of them have been rescued. Our Embassy coordinated with the Omani authorities for their rescue. We thank the Oman government for their support in rescuing the crew and ensuring their safety,” he added.
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed by Iranian authorities since the United States and Israel started the war against the Islamic Republic on February 28, resulting in a steep spike in global energy prices and disrupting oil markets. The US has enforced its own blockade around Iranian ports in a bid to pressure Tehran into opening the vital waterway.
