New Delhi: The chargé d’affaires of the American embassy in New Delhi was summoned on Wednesday to convey India’s strong displeasure about missile strikes by the US Navy near the Strait of Hormuz. On Thursday, India again condemned the repeated attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian seafarers after a third oil tanker was struck off the Omani coast and three deaths were confirmed in Wednesday’s incident.
Even as India called for an immediate end to these attacks, the US has shown no remorse.
In fact, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) admitted to firing two Hellfire missiles into the ship’s engine room, the third attack in four days on ships with Indian sailors.
Justifying its action, the US said the crew didn’t comply with directions and violated its blockade in Gulf of Oman.
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) acted against Guinea-Bissau flagged M/T Jalveer as it attempted to transport oil from Iran through the Gulf of Oman. A U.S. aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the ship’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from U.S. forces,” CENTCOM said in a post on X and shared a video clip of the moment of a strike.
CENTCOM claimed to have “disabled” nine non-compliant vessels, redirected 135 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass since initiating the blockade on April 13.
CENTCOM added that the blockade is being enforced “impartially” against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 11, 2026
