NEW DELHI, 9 June (H.S.): The United States on Monday launched a missile strike on the Palau-flagged oil tanker MT Marivex near the coast of Masirah, Oman, after the vessel allegedly ignored repeated warnings and attempted to breach a naval blockade. All 24 Indian sailors aboard the tanker were rescued safely with the assistance of Omani authorities.

According to Opesh Kumar Sharma, Director in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the vessel was not carrying any cargo at the time of the incident and had a crew of 24 Indian nationals on board. All crew members were rescued unharmed. He stated that the blacklisted vessel had repeatedly disregarded warnings issued by the U.S. Navy while attempting to break through the blockade. The tanker was reportedly included on the sanctions list maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

According to available information, MT Marivex had made four attempts in recent days to cross the U.S.-enforced blockade amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. On three previous occasions, the vessel reportedly retreated after receiving warnings. However, on June 8, during its fourth attempt, it allegedly tried to breach the blockade by using Omani territorial waters. During the operation, the tanker reportedly switched off its signal-transmission equipment in an effort to avoid detection.

After repeated warnings went unheeded, the U.S. Navy allegedly carried out a precision strike targeting the vessel’s engineering and steering sections using an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft launched from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), resulting in the sinking of the tanker. The vessel was reportedly empty and was not carrying any cargo at the time of the attack.

In a statement, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that on June 8, U.S. forces intercepted an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. According to the statement, the vessel was attempting to violate the blockade by heading toward an Iranian port. CENTCOM further stated that when the crew failed to comply with instructions issued by U.S. forces, an F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft carried out a strike against the tanker.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar