Indian-flagged ship sinks in drone attack off Oman coast; MEA responds

MUSCAT: An Indian-flagged cargo ship sank in a drone attack off the coast of Oman. The cargo ship, Haji Ali from Gujarat, sank while all 14 Indian crew members were safely rescued by Omani authorities.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed strong protest over the incident, terming the attack unacceptable and condemnable.

The incident took place near Lima on the northern coast of Oman at around 3.30 am on Wednesday. The ship was ferrying livestock from Somalia to Sharjah when the attack took place. The forces behind the attack are yet to be identified. It is reported that an unknown explosive device hit the ship, causing it to catch fire and sink. A major disaster was averted when the crew moved to lifeboats. All the livestock on board were charred to death. The ship's owner, Sultan Ahmed Sangar, confirmed the safety of all sailors. In the context of the ongoing Iran-US conflict near the Strait of Hormuz, there remained great concern about maritime security in this region.

Two LPG tankers bound for India have passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The LPG tanker SIMI and the ship NV Sunshine passed through the troubled waters. This is the 13th Indian ship to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed for more than two months.