13 Of 14 Indians Rescued After Attack On Merchant Vessel Off Oman Coast, MEA Condemns Attack On Commercial Ship

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday strongly condemned the attack on commercial vessel MT El Gaia off the coast of Oman, which had 14 Indian crew members onboard. In a statement, the MEA confirmed that 13 Indians have been rescued so far, while search and rescue operations for the remaining Indian national are continuing.

The ministry stated that the Embassy in Oman is monitoring the rescue operation and coordinating with the Omani administration in the ongoing operation, while thanking Muscat for the support. The MEA reiterated the call for immediate de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy, stating that targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure is unacceptable and free and safe navigation must be restored.

In a statement, the MEA stated that all 14 Indian crew members who were on board the ship are being accounted for and noted that the Indian Embassy in Muscat is in close coordination with the Omani administration. “Our Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing Search and Rescue operation,” the ministry said. India also expressed gratitude to Oman for its swift assistance in the rescue effort, though it did not disclose details about the cause of the attack or who was behind it.

India Calls Attack Unacceptable

Reacting to the incident, India called for immediate de-escalation in the region and stressed that dialogue and diplomacy must be pursued to restore peace.

“The targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians, and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable,” the MEA said, underlining the need to restore free and safe navigation and unhindered movement of commercial goods through international waterways at the earliest.

The strike on MT El Gaia occurred at a time when security concerns over commercial shipping in the Gulf have sharply escalated. British maritime security agency UKMTO reported that a vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz was hit by a projectile, triggering a fire that forced the crew to abandon ship. Separately, Iran said that 1 person was killed and 4 crew members were injured after an Iranian commercial vessel was struck off its own coast.

Meanwhile, such incidents have heightened anxiety over possible disruptions to one of the world’s most critical corridors for global energy supplies.

Saudi Oil Pipeline And Cities Hit

Saudi Arabia too has come under a wave of attacks, with state media broadcasting visuals of damage to houses and a mosque in Jazan province following a cross-border attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who separately claimed to have struck a Saudi military base in a neighbouring province.

The cities in southern Saudi Arabia have been on regular alert since last week after drone strikes on Friday hit the Kingdom’s 1200-km east-west oil pipeline, a vital artery that carries Saudi crude to the Red Sea and allows exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest tensions followed a relatively calm August when Middle Eastern oil flows had gradually recovered, but conflict has flared again over the past fortnight amid the war in the region.

Iran To Meet Gulf States In Oman Over Hormuz Shipping

Amid the unrest, the Iranian officials are slated to meet representatives of Gulf Arab states in Oman on Monday to discuss shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran has claimed that it reached an understanding with Oman regarding future shipping routes through the strait, although specifics remain scarce. Oman itself has not publicly confirmed the meeting or any such agreement, and most Gulf capitals have remained tight-lipped. Iraq said it would send a delegation to the talks, while Bahrain said it would not meet with Iranian officials.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the meeting would take up the issue of the Strait of Hormuz and other matters but was unlikely to produce a signed deal to reopen the waterway. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also asserted that Tehran would not reopen the strait until the United States meets its demands, regardless of any understanding reached with Oman.