Indian Seafarer Killed in Attack on Vessel off Oman, 13 Crew Rescued

One Indian national was killed after an attack on a commercial vessel near Limah in Oman, India's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, November 3, Reuters reported. Of the 14 Indian nationals on board the MSV AL JUSUFI, 13 have been rescued after the incident on Monday, the ministry said in a statement.

What happened near Limah

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the vessel was struck by an unidentified aerial object on November 2 while navigating near the coast of Oman. Thirteen crew members were safely evacuated and rescued by the Omani Coast Guard, he said. Sonowal identified the deceased seafarer as Gandhar Nahim Ajij from Gujarat. No source in the reports named who carried out the attack, and Indian officials described the object that hit the vessel as unidentified.

The ministry said: "We condemn the attack on a commercial vessel MSV AL JUSUFI, near Limah, Oman yesterday evening. Of the 14 Indian nationals on board, 13 have been rescued while 1 Indian national tragically lost his life after sustaining injuries. We convey our deepest condolences on the precious life lost."

India's response

India condemned the attack on the Indian flagged vessel and reiterated its call for immediate de-escalation of tensions and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution in West Asia, ANI reported. The Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities for the early repatriation of the rescued Indian nationals and the mortal remains of the deceased, the ministry said, according to IANS.

In its statement the ministry added: "The continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply concerning. We reiterate our call for immediate de-escalation of tensions, and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region." It said the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and that free and unimpeded navigation through the international waterways in the region must be restored at the earliest.

Earlier attack on shipping near Oman

The ministry expressed concern over continuing attacks on commercial shipping in the region. On October 11, the tanker MT Petro Dolphin, carrying 11 Indian crew members, came under a drone attack at Sohar Anchorage in Oman, IANS reported. Nine Indians were rescued in that incident and two were reported missing. The AL JUSUFI attack is the latest case in which Indian seafarers have been caught in strikes on commercial shipping near Oman, and it is the first in these reports in which an Indian national was confirmed killed.

What is not known

Officials have not identified the attacker. Sonowal called the object that struck the vessel an unidentified aerial object, and none of the reports carried an attribution for the strike. The ministry statement dealt with the rescue, the repatriation work and India's call for de-escalation. Further details of the attack itself, including who fired the object and why the vessel was hit, were not given in the reports.