2 Indian sailors killed, 1 missing in US attack

Two Indian sailors were killed and one is missing in a US attack on an oil tanker named 'Settebello' off the coast of Oman.

The names of the two sailors who died have been released. They are Aditya Sharma (deck cadet) and Shivanand Chaurasia (engine fitter). And the name of the missing sailor is Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh.

This information was given by Manoj Yadav, general secretary of India's Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI).

The Indian government has summoned a senior US diplomat in New Delhi over the incident. The country's Ministry of External Affairs said that Jason Meeks, deputy head of the US embassy in New Delhi, has been summoned.

The US Central Command (Centcom) claimed that a "precision strike" was carried out on a ship named 'Settebello' on Tuesday evening. They alleged that the Iranian oil tanker failed to comply with US forces' orders.

The UK's maritime watchdog said that the ship caught fire in its engine room and sent a distress signal about 37 kilometers northeast of the port of Sohar in Oman.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez condemned any action that puts the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping at risk.

He said, "Such an incident is completely unacceptable. My condolences go out to the families of the three missing sailors, and my thoughts are with those who are still searching for their loved ones."

The Dawn reported.