A grieving father has described the U.S. military’s missile attack on a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman as a war crime, following the death of his 23-year-old son, one of three Indian seafarers killed in the incident.
Aditya Sharma, serving as a deck cadet on probation aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello, was the only son of his parents. On Monday, he sent a WhatsApp message to his father assuring him that he was safe. Barely an hour later, the vessel came under attack, and Aditya lost his life. His family learned of the tragedy only later that night.
The U.S. forces struck the tanker, accusing it of attempting to transport oil from Iran in violation of an American blockade. The incident marks the latest in a series of attacks on merchant shipping in the region this week. Earlier, on June 8, Omani authorities evacuated 24 Indian sailors from another Palau-flagged vessel, MT Marivex, following a similar strike. A third commercial ship, MT Jalveer, was also hit on Thursday, prompting evacuation efforts for Indian crew members to Shinas Port with assistance from Oman’s Royal Navy.
Rajesh Sharma, Aditya’s father, had spoken with his son on Sunday. In the conversation, Aditya indicated that their ship was at a safe distance from a previous incident. The father has called on the Indian government to take a firm position regarding the United States. “There are multiple ways to manage such situations with cargo vessels, including deploying military forces or detaining crew members,” he stated. “Attacking them with deadly missiles is unacceptable.”
ALSO READ : Three Indian Seafarers Die in US Strike on Oil Tanker Off Oman
Of the 24 Indian crew members aboard the MT Settebello, 21 were rescued. Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed deep regret over the loss of the three Indian seafarers, whose bodies were later recovered and identified.
The Gulf region has grown increasingly hazardous for maritime traffic since late February, amid ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. An estimated 20,000 seafarers remain on vessels in the area, with restrictions imposed on passage through the Strait of Hormuz. According to data from the International Maritime Organization, 11 seafarers have died in the Gulf since the conflict began. The strait, which typically handles a significant portion of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, has seen sharply reduced traffic.
Rajesh Sharma urged authorities to ensure shipping companies avoid routing vessels through the strait until conditions stabilize. In response to the attack, India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a formal diplomatic protest to the United States. Officials have emphasized the government’s commitment to the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers, who form a substantial part of the global merchant navy workforce operating in these waters.
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