An Indian sailor was killed and eight crew members, including six Indian nationals, were injured after two UAE oil tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. The attack prompted India to summon Iran’s senior-most diplomat in New Delhi and lodge a strong diplomatic protest.
According to the UAE Defence Ministry, the tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiyah were targeted while passing through the southern shipping lane within Omani territorial waters. The strike triggered fires on both vessels, though the blazes were later brought under control.
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The injured included six Indians and two Ukrainian nationals, with four crew members reported to be in serious condition.
Following the attack, Iranian Deputy Chief of Mission Mohammad Javad Hosseini was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs, where officials conveyed India’s strong objection. The meeting was held publicly, reflecting growing concern over repeated attacks on merchant vessels carrying Indian crew.
The latest incident comes just two days after another Iranian strike on the Cyprus-flagged cargo ship GFS Galaxy, in which one Indian sailor went missing while ten others were rescued.
The UAE condemned the attack as a serious violation of international law and warned it reserved the right to respond to protect its sovereignty and national interests.
India reiterated its call for immediate de-escalation in West Asia and stressed the need for dialogue and diplomacy, warning that continued attacks on commercial shipping threaten regional stability and global trade through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
