World · India Bureau
Drone attack on Indian oil tanker off Oman coast; two crew members missing
An Indian-crewed oil tanker anchored off Sohar in Oman came under drone attack, with nine Indian sailors rescued safely. Two crew members remain unaccounted for following the incident.
LSN India ·
The MT Petro Dolphin, an oil tanker carrying Indian nationals, was struck by a drone while anchored near Sohar on the Omani coast. Following the attack, nine Indian crew members were successfully rescued and brought to safety by maritime authorities and nearby vessels responding to distress calls.
Two members of the crew remain missing in the aftermath of the strike. Rescue operations continue in the area as authorities work to locate the missing sailors. The incident marks the latest security concern affecting commercial shipping in the Arabian Sea region.
Separately, Iranian naval forces have issued stern warnings regarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, cautioning vessels against disrupting maritime traffic in the strategic waterway. Iran has indicated it will take strict action against ships that interfere with navigation in the chokepoint, through which a significant portion of global oil supplies transit.
The attack on the MT Petro Dolphin underscores persistent security challenges facing merchant vessels operating in Middle Eastern waters. Indian maritime authorities have been coordinating with regional partners on the incident as investigations into the drone attack continue.