U.S. Central Command said Wednesday it disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel violated the U.S. Navy’s naval blockade that has been in place since April targeting ships carrying Iranian oil.
The Palau-flagged M/T Settebello, which was transporting oil from Iran, was struck by precision munitions fired from a U.S. aircraft into its engine room after the ship failed to comply with directions from U.S. forces, CENTCOM said in a statement.
Of the 24 crew members aboard, 21 have been rescued, India’s foreign ministry said. Three Indian nationals remain missing. The ministry said India’s Embassy in Oman was monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities in the search-and-rescue operation.
“The continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome and a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region,” the ministry said in a statement. “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.”
The ministry added that “the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region in keeping with international law must be restored at the earliest.”
India summoned the U.S. deputy chief of mission in New Delhi over the incident, according to The Hill.
The M/T Settebello was about 600 feet long and about 106 feet wide, according to MarineTraffic.com.
The strike on the Settebello came a day after the U.S. military disabled another vessel, the Palau-flagged M/T Marivex, which was traveling toward Iran and was also found to be violating the blockade, CENTCOM said.
According to CENTCOM, the U.S. military has disabled eight non-compliant vessels and redirected 134 ships that complied with orders since the naval blockade began in April. The military has allowed 42 ships carrying humanitarian aid to proceed through the blockade zone.
MSI previously reported that the U.S. military disabled an Iran-bound oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on June 2 as part of the same blockade enforcement campaign. Read that report.