India condemns attack on Indian-owned vessel in Oman waters, calls it unacceptable

New Delhi: India has denounced the attack on the Indian-flagged cargo vessel Haji Ali, which was targeted while sailing in Omani waters near a region affected by ongoing West Asia tensions involving Iran and the United States. The government described the incident as unacceptable and reiterated that commercial shipping and civilian crews must not be targeted under any circumstances.

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that all Indian crew members on board were safe, and expressed gratitude to Omani authorities for conducting a rescue operation after the vessel was struck. The ship was reportedly carrying livestock and travelling from Somalia to the United Arab Emirates when it was hit early Wednesday.

According to maritime risk monitoring reports, the vessel may have been struck by an explosion believed to be caused by either a drone or missile, leading to a fire that ultimately sank the ship. However, authorities have not officially confirmed the cause or identified those responsible for the attack.

The incident has added to growing concerns over maritime security in key shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy and trade flows. Tensions in the region have remained high despite diplomatic efforts and a ceasefire arrangement between Iran and the United States last month.

India also stressed that freedom of navigation must be protected and urged restraint to prevent further escalation affecting civilian maritime operations. The attack follows earlier incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels in the region since hostilities intensified earlier this year.