India condemns attack on merchant vessel off Oman coast, says 13 Indians rescued
Thirteen Indian crew members were rescued after commercial vessel MT El Gaia came under attack off the coast of Oman, the Ministry of External Affairs said. Search and rescue operations are continuing for one Indian national who remains missing.
The MEA condemned the attack and said all 14 Indian crew members onboard the vessel were being accounted for, with the Indian Embassy in Oman closely coordinating with local authorities. βOur Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing Search and Rescue operation,β the ministry said.
India also thanked the Omani authorities for their support in rescuing its nationals. The MEA did not provide further details about the circumstances of the attack or identify those responsible.INDIA CALLS FOR SAFE NAVIGATION
India called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions in the region and urged all sides to pursue dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace. βThe targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians, and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable,β the MEA said.
India also stressed the need to restore free and safe navigation and the movement of commercial goods through international waterways in the region at the earliest.MORE SHIPS COME UNDER ATTACK
The attack on MT El Gaia came amid growing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the Gulf and surrounding waterways.
The British maritime security agency UKMTO said on Sunday that a vessel was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The attack caused a fire and forced the crew to evacuate the vessel.
Iran, meanwhile, said one person was killed, and four crew members were wounded after an Iranian commercial vessel was struck off its coast.
The latest incidents have added to concerns over disruptions to one of the world's most important maritime routes for global energy supplies.SAUDI OIL PIPELINE HIT
Saudi Arabia has also faced a series of attacks, with state media releasing footage showing damage to homes and a mosque in Jazan province following what was described as a cross-border attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The Houthis separately claimed to have struck a Saudi military base in a neighbouring province.
Southern Saudi cities have faced regular alerts since last week, following drone strikes on Friday that hit the country's 1,200-km east-west oil pipeline.
The pipeline is a key route for transporting Saudi oil to the Red Sea, allowing exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
The developments come after a period of relative calm in August, when flows of Middle Eastern oil gradually recovered. However, tensions have escalated again over the past two weeks amid the ongoing war in the region.IRAN TO MEET GULF STATES
Against this backdrop, Iranian officials are expected to meet representatives of Gulf Arab states in Oman on Monday to discuss shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has said it reached an agreement with Oman concerning future shipping routes through the strait, although few details have been made public.
Oman has not publicly confirmed the meeting or the reported agreement, while Gulf states have largely remained silent. Iraq said it would send a delegation, while Bahrain said it would not meet Iranian officials.
A senior Iranian official told news agency Reuters that the meeting would discuss the Strait of Hormuz and other issues, but was unlikely to result in a signed agreement to reopen the strait.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also said Tehran would not reopen the strait until the United States met its demands, despite any agreement reached with Oman.- EndsWith agency inputsPublished By: Sonali VermaPublished On: Sep 13, 2026 20:08 IST
