Ministry Of External Affairs Criticises Attack On Indian Cargo Vessel Near Oman

On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs criticised the attack on an Indian-flagged cargo vessel near the coast of Oman and called the incident a serious threat to commercial maritime activity in the region.

The cargo ship, identified as MSV Haji Ali, reportedly sank after being hit by a suspected drone or missile-type strike on May 13 while travelling through Omani waters. The vessel was carrying goods from Berbera in Somalia to Sharjah when the incident took place.

In its statement, the MEA said attacks on civilian ships and commercial sailors were unacceptable and stressed the importance of protecting international shipping routes and freedom of navigation.

The Ministry confirmed that all Indian crew members onboard were rescued safely. It also thanked Omani authorities for conducting a quick rescue mission after the vessel caught fire following the strike.

According to reports, the Oman Coast Guard evacuated all 14 crew members from the ship. The operation was carried out after the vessel became stranded off the coast during the early hours of the morning.

The ship belonged to Gujarat-based owner Sultan Ahmed Ansar from Dwarka. He reportedly said the vessel lost control around 3:30 AM local time following the attack.

The latest incident has increased concerns over maritime security in West Asia, where tensions have remained high in recent months.

The region has seen rising instability after military confrontations involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The tensions have also triggered concerns over the safety of key international trade routes. These include the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

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