New Delhi: India on Sunday condemned the attack on commercial vessel MT El Gaia off the Oman coast, saying 13 of the 14 Indian crew members onboard had been rescued while search and rescue operations continued for one missing national.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the Indian Embassy in Oman was closely coordinating with Omani authorities and thanked them for their assistance in rescuing the crew. The vessel is a Panama-flagged tanker.
The MEA urged immediate de-escalation of regional tensions and called for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace. It said attacks targeting commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians and civilian infrastructure were unacceptable, while stressing the need to restore free and safe navigation and the flow of commerce through international waterways.
Our statement on the attack on a commercial vessel off the coast of Oman ⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/u78n9UGNFF pic.twitter.com/RjCOaDMQQL
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 13, 2026
The incident comes amid heightened risks to shipping in the Middle East. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported another vessel being struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a fire and crew evacuation. Iran also reported casualties after a commercial vessel was hit off its coast.
Several India-linked vessels have faced incidents in the region. Last month, Indian-flagged MSV Faize Noore Oliya sank in the Red Sea off Yemen, with all 13 Indian nationals rescued.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently stressed at the BRICS Business Forum that secure sea lanes and safe seafarers are essential for global trade.
