India Summons Top US Diplomat Over Attacks on Merchant Vessels

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, India has summoned the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi in protest of attacks on merchant vessels off the coast of Oman. Reuters reported this, citing an Indian source and referencing Al Jazeera and Mehr News Agency.

Sarbananda Sonowal, India’s Minister of Shipping, announced on Thursday that three Indian sailors who went missing after a U.S. attack on an oil tanker near Oman’s coast have been confirmed lost. Manoj Yadav, the Secretary-General of the National Union of Seafarers of India, also confirmed this development.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had previously summoned the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires on Wednesday to protest Washington’s strike on an Indian oil tanker off the Omani coast. Nagaraj Naidu, India’s Deputy Foreign Minister (MEA), summoned Jason Mok, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in New Delhi, and sought an explanation for the attack.

This incident occurred after New Delhi strongly condemned the attack on the Palau-flagged oil tanker “M/T Marivex,” which was carrying 28 crew members, including 24 Indian nationals. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed to have attacked the vessel as it was allegedly attempting to proceed towards Iranian waters.