India condemns ship attack; one seafarer still missing

India on Sunday strongly condemned the attack on the Cyprus-flagged merchant vessel GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman, which left 11 Indian seafarers on board. While 10 Indian nationals have been rescued, one remains missing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

“We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel GFS Galaxy off the coast of Oman, earlier today. Of the 11 Indian nationals on board, 10 have been rescued so far, while 1 Indian national is reportedly missing,” the MEA said in a statement.

The ministry added that the Indian Embassy in Muscat is closely monitoring the situation and actively coordinating with Omani authorities for the ongoing search and rescue operation. “We thank the Omani authorities for their support,” it stated.

In its statement, India expressed deep concern over repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the region and reiterated its call for calm.

“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 vessel was struck by what Iranian forces described as a warning shot, which set the ship ablaze and forced the crew to abandon it. The incident occurred near the coast of Oman amid heightened tensions in the region.

Iran claimed the ship was transiting along an unapproved route in the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz. Shortly after the incident, Tehran declared the strait closed again and warned of a “severe response” to any retaliation.

The attack comes as tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated sharply. The US launched a fresh round of military strikes against Iranian targets, citing the incident involving the GFS Galaxy. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the latest strikes hit approximately 140 Iranian military targets, including missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks, and coastal surveillance locations.

This marks the third wave of US strikes on Iran this week, with over 300 targets hit across three nights, CENTCOM said. Iran has responded with attacks on several countries in the Middle East, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a critical flashpoint in efforts to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict that began on February 28 this year.