Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 12: India on Sunday condemned the attack on the merchant vessel GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman, in which 11 Indian seafarers were on board. While 10 have been rescued, one Indian national remains missing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
In a statement, the MEA said the Indian Embassy in Muscat is closely coordinating with Omani authorities in the ongoing search and rescue operation.
"We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman. Of the 11 Indian nationals on board, 10 have been rescued so far, while one Indian national is reportedly missing," the ministry said.
The MEA thanked the Omani authorities for their support and said the embassy is actively monitoring the situation.
The Cyprus-flagged vessel was struck by what Iran described as a "warning shot" near the Strait of Hormuz, setting the ship ablaze and forcing its crew to abandon it. The incident came shortly before Tehran once again declared the strategic waterway closed, citing security concerns.
Iran claimed the vessel had been sailing along an unauthorised route through the conflict-hit waterway and warned that any retaliation over the incident would invite a "severe response."
The attack further escalated tensions between Iran and the United States, prompting Washington to launch another wave of military strikes on Iranian targets.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), around 140 Iranian military targets, including missile and drone sites, naval assets, ammunition depots, communication networks and coastal surveillance facilities, were struck in the latest operation. The US military said it has targeted more than 300 Iranian sites over the past three nights.
Iran reportedly responded by launching attacks across parts of the Middle East, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
Expressing concern over the growing attacks on commercial shipping, India called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in the region.
"The continuing incidents of attacks on commercial shipping in the region are deeply worrisome. 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 MEA said.
The ministry also stressed that attacks on commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure must cease and called for the restoration of free and unhindered navigation through international waterways in accordance with international law.