Oman, 02 March (H.S.): In a dramatic escalation of the burgeoning US-Israel-Iran conflict, Iranian forces struck the Palau-flagged oil tanker Skylight in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman's Musandam Peninsula, endangering 15 Indian crew members and injuring at least four sailors.

The assault, confirmed by Oman's Maritime Security Centre (MSC), occurred five nautical miles north of Khasab Port following drone strikes on the nearby Duqm port, marking the first direct hit on merchant shipping in the vital waterway.

All 20 crew—15 Indians and five Iranians—were safely evacuated in a coordinated rescue involving Omani military, security, and civilian agencies, with the injured receiving immediate medical attention.

Retaliation for Supreme Leader's Assassination

This brazen attack comes mere days after joint US-Israeli strikes, codenamed Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury on February 28, which US President Donald Trump and Israeli officials confirmed killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with family members and top Revolutionary Guards commanders.

Iranian state media and the IRGC vowed the most ferocious offensive operation in response, issuing radio warnings that effectively shuttered the Strait—a 21-nautical-mile chokepoint funneling 21 million barrels of oil daily and 20% of global LNG.

Shipping giants like Maersk swiftly halted all transits, plunging tanker traffic to near-zero and spiking global oil prices as fears mount over supply disruptions.

Bloomberg reported at least three tankers damaged in the Gulf, underscoring the peril to commerce as Iran weaponizes the corridor it co-controls with Oman.

India's Diplomatic Balancing Act

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, responding to the crisis, held calls with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stressing civilian safety as paramount and urging de-escalation.PM Modi condemned UAE attacks—linked to the broader Iranian retaliation—while thanking the UAE for safeguarding its Indian diaspora, amid reports of black smoke over Dubai and strikes near Burj Khalifa.

The tanker's Indian-heavy crew highlights India's vulnerability as the world's third-largest oil importer, heavily reliant on Hormuz flows. Euronews noted the Skylight's US-sanctioned status may have painted it as a target, amplifying risks for multinational crews.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar