Indian sailors killed as US strikes tankers in Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. military's actions in the Strait of Hormuz have led to the deaths of three Indian sailors aboard the MT Settebello, a Palau-flagged vessel. The incident occurred Wednesday when U.S. forces fired "precision munitions" into the ship's engine room.

While the Omani Navy rescued 21 of the 24 Indian seafarers, three died: deck cadet Aditya Sharma, engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya, and chief engineer Patnala Suresh. U.S. CENTCOM claimed the ship violated America's blockade of Iranian ports and ignored compliance orders.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks in the region. Two other vessels, MT Marivex and MT Jalveer, were also struck by U.S. forces this week, with CENTCOM citing non-compliance. Reports suggest two of the targeted vessels were sanctioned by the U.S., and one was allegedly transporting Iranian oil.

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Seafarers often pay the price in conflict, especially when conflict spills out into the maritime domain.

Since the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports and related vessels began on April 13, over 30 ships with Indian crews have been attacked by either U.S. forces or Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). At least seven Indian seafarers have lost their lives during this period.

Many seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz originate from countries like India and the Philippines, which have no direct involvement in the conflict. These individuals often come from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and have limited agency in the "war-like" conditions they face. The attacks underscore the significant impact of the conflict on innocent maritime workers.

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There is a difference in international law in terms of the law of naval warfare on firing on a ship that is running a blockade and refuses to stop, and f