India condemns attack: In a strong and direct response, India has condemned a suspected missile or drone attack on an Indian commercial ship near the coast of Oman.
Calling the incident “unacceptable,” New Delhi raised serious concerns over the continuous targeting of civilian sailors and trading ships in international waters.
The ship, which was caught in the attack, eventually sank. Fortunately, all 14 Indian crew members on board were successfully saved through a quick rescue operation assisted by Omani authorities.
A Sudden Explosion at Sea: Drone or Missile Suspected
India condemns attack: According to Vanguard, a British maritime risk management group, the ship was carrying livestock when it suffered a massive explosion.
The blast started a heavy fire on board, causing the vessel to sink near Limah, Oman, just south of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Experts believe the fire was caused by either a drone or a missile strike. This highlights how dangerous these trading lanes have recently become for civilian ships.
Expressing India’s anger over the incident, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the attack on an Indian ship is unacceptable.
He added that India strongly dislikes the fact that commercial shipping and innocent sailors are still being targeted in this region.
All 14 Indian Sailors Saved and Safe in Oman
Despite the violent destruction of the ship, a major tragedy was avoided. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center confirmed that Omani authorities rushed to the spot and pulled the stranded sailors out of the water.
India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has confirmed that every crew member is completely safe.
Mukesh Mangal, a senior official from the ministry, stated that all 14 sailors have been taken to Dibba Port in Oman, where they are being taken care of.
A Terrifying Pattern: Two Indian Ships Lost in One Week
India condemns attack: This latest attack is part of a deeply worrying trend. Shockingly, this is the second Indian-flagged ship to sink in this specific region within just seven days, creating panic among international sailors.
The Tragedy of May 8
Just days ago, on May 8, 2026, another Indian ship named Al Faiz Noor-e-Suleimani met a similar fate. The ship had left Dubai port and was carrying cargo to Al Makalla port in Yemen.
As it reached the Strait of Hormuz, it got caught in the middle of a military clash between the United States and Iran.
The ship was hit and began to sink rapidly. Adam Bhaya, the general secretary of the Indian Sailing Vessels Association, described a scary scene where all the crew members had to jump into the deep sea to save their lives.
While most were rescued hours later by a passing ship named Premsagar, an Indian sailor named Altaf Kerr tragically lost his life.
This was the first Indian ship to be hit during the ongoing US-Israeli war.
A Vital Sea Route Under Constant Threat
The Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz are among the most important sea lanes in the world because they are used to transport global crude oil and energy supplies.
However, these waters have now turned into a war zone.
The trouble has been growing for weeks. Back in April 2026, two Indian-flagged oil tankers were attacked while trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz, which forced India to demand safe passage for its ships.
More recently, another incident was reported near the UAE, where unauthorized armed men boarded an anchored ship and forced it to sail toward Iranian waters.
With Indian lives and trade directly at risk, New Delhi is keeping a close watch on the situation alongside global security agencies.
However, the loss of two ships in a single week shows that the seas of West Asia are becoming increasingly hostile for everyday sailors.