Projectile strike at Hormuz : 11 Indian sailors wounded

Pabitra Banerjee : The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a sharp and unequivocal condemnation following a hostile projectile strike on a commercial vessel carrying Indian crew members off the coast of Oman, calling for an immediate and unconditional halt to escalating attacks on international shipping lanes.
The Panama-flagged merchant tanker, MT On Peace, came under sudden attack while transiting the volatile waters of the Strait of Hormuz. Out of a total crew complement of 19 personnel onboard, 17 were Indian nationals. The violent impact and subsequent chaos resulted in 12 total injuries, 11 of which were sustained directly by Indian sailors. Swift and coordinated intervention by local Omani authorities ensured the immediate rescue and evacuation of the wounded crew members, who were safely transferred to Khasab, Oman, for emergency medical management and hospital care.
New Delhi formally expressed deep appreciation to the Omani government for their prompt assistance and valuable support during the crisis. Voicing severe alarm over the deteriorating security situation in Middle Eastern waterways, the ministry stressed that recurring assaults on civilian shipping lines and innocent seafarers remain a grave threat to international commerce. Highlighting that uninterrupted navigation through critical global trade arteries must be safeguarded at all costs, Indian diplomatic channels reiterated that these reckless attacks must end immediately to restore regional peace and protect civilian lives.
The latest maritime incident underscores the persistent dangers faced by merchant mariners navigating critical choke points, prompting Indian authorities to maintain close contact with regional partners and diplomatic missions to ensure the safety, security, and welfare of all impacted citizens.