India lodges protest with the U.S. over attack on vessel off Oman

India formally lodged a protest with the United States after an attack on a commercial vessel off the coast of Oman that left Indian seafarers missing, according to reporting on Thursday.

The vessel, identified in reports as the Palau-flagged Settebello, was carrying 24 Indian crew members. At least 21 were rescued, while three Indian nationals remained missing at the time of India’s protest.

Diplomatic protest

India summoned U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks and conveyed its objection over the attack, with the Ministry of External Affairs emphasizing the safety of Indian seafarers.

Reporting also named Nagaraj Naidu, the MEA’s additional secretary for the Americas, in connection with the protest.

The incident has raised diplomatic friction because India is pressing Washington over an attack tied to a vessel off Oman, even as the casualty picture remains unsettled.

What is known so far

The attack took place off Oman in the Gulf of Oman, a shipping corridor that has seen heightened tension.

Initial reporting said 21 crew members were rescued and three Indians were missing. Later reports introduced a different casualty account, saying two Indian sailors were dead and a chief engineer was missing, but those details were not yet officially confirmed in the sources reviewed.

India’s immediate concern is the fate of its nationals aboard the vessel. The government has also signaled that the lives of seafarers remain the central issue in its complaint.

What happens next

Search-and-rescue efforts may continue for the missing crew members, and further official statements could clarify the casualty count.

U.S. officials may respond to India’s protest or provide their own account of the attack, while maritime authorities may update attribution and damage details as the investigation develops.