Muscat, March 3: In a troubling incident amid the ongoing America-Israel and Iran conflict, an oil tanker was targeted in the Gulf of Oman on Monday. This attack marked the first casualty for India, as one Indian national lost his life.
The Indian Embassy in Oman expressed its deep condolences on social media platform X regarding the tragic death of an Indian citizen aboard the tanker MKD Vyom. The embassy is closely coordinating with local authorities to ensure the safe and prompt return of its citizens from the vessel.
The embassy further stated, “We are committed to providing all possible assistance in this matter.”
According to Oman’s official news agency, the tanker, flagged under the Republic of the Marshall Islands, was attacked by an unmanned surface vessel (USV) approximately 52 nautical miles off the coast of Oman.
Reports indicated that the tanker was carrying around 59,463 metric tons of cargo. The attack resulted in a fire and explosion in the main engine room, leading to the death of the Indian crew member.
With the coordination of the maritime safety center, 16 Indian crew members, four Bangladeshi nationals, and one Ukrainian citizen were safely rescued by the Panama-flagged commercial vessel MV Sand. Additionally, a ship from the Royal Navy of Oman is monitoring the damaged tanker and issuing necessary navigational warnings to vessels passing through the area.
Earlier in the day, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman held phone conversations with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and French President Emmanuel Macron. They discussed the escalating military tensions in the region and their implications for security and stability.
Oman’s Foreign Ministry emphasized the need to immediately de-escalate tensions to manage the crisis and promote security and stability.
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