The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks for the second time on Friday to lodge a formal protest after an American strike on Guinea-Bissau-flagged MT Jalveer carrying 20 Indian seafarers, marking the third such attack in three days.
Public anger has been mounting in India after the US military stationed in the Gulf carried out attacks on three vessels carrying Indian seafarers. The deadliest incident involved MT Settebello, a tanker that was attacked by US in the Gulf of Oman, where three Indian sailors were killed.
The US envoy was called in by Nagaraj Naidu, the Additional Secretary (Americas) in the MEA, to lodge a demarche. This is the second time the US mission has been summoned by the MEA. Meeks was summoned by the Ministry on Wednesday after the attack on the Palau-flagged Settebello.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces have struck three merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members this week as part of an operation aimed at enforcing a blockade against Iranian oil exports. The vessels identified in reports include MT Marivex, MT Settebello and MT Jalveer.
The Guinea-Bisseau-flagged MT Jalveer, carrying 20 Indian seafarers, came under US fire near Oman’s Shinas port, reporting a fire in its engine room early on Thursday morning. The crew contacted the Omani navy and another nearby vessel, asking to be rescued, according to distress calls.
Authorities later confirmed that all Indian crew members had been safely evacuated from the ship. ““On June 11, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel, a bitumen tanker MT Jalveer, was reportedly involved in a maritime security incident in the vicinity of Shinas port, Oman. The vessel has 20 Indian seafarers on board, and all of them are reported to be safe," said Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary of India’s Shipping Ministry.
The US has acknowledged carrying out strikes on MT Jalveer, saying it violated the US naval blockade by attempting to transport Iranian oil. “A US aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the ship’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from US forces," it added, while releasing a footage of the missile attack on the vessel.
India had earlier condemned attacks on vessels carrying Indian sailors, saying the continuing incidents are deeply worrisome and a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region. “The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region in keeping with international law must be restored at the earliest," the MEA said.
Reports indicate that more than 18,000 Indian sailors are currently in the Gulf region. The government said the welfare and security of Indian seafarers and the protection of Indian maritime interests remained the country’s highest priorities.
