Three US Attacks on Ships in Three Days: Details Unveiled
Three ships attacked by the US – Over the past three days, US military actions have resulted in the targeting of three oil tankers, leading to at least three fatalities. The most recent incident occurred on Thursday, with a missile strike on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman, marking the third such attack. US Central Command (Centcom) attributed the strike to the ship’s alleged breach of an Iranian port blockade and noncompliance with orders.
Wednesday’s strike claimed three Indian lives, prompting a formal protest from India’s foreign ministry. The Indian government expressed concern, stating,
“The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end.”
This led to the summoning of the US embassy’s deputy head in Delhi to address the issue.
On Monday, another distress call from an Indian crew revealed a US attack on a third tanker, which was on fire and sinking. The Omani navy assisted in rescuing 24 crew members. The ship, Marivex, was previously sanctioned by the US under its former name, Arihant. Its owner, Arihant Shipping Inc, was also added to the sanctions list, with accusations of transporting Iranian fuel oil and bitumen since July 2025.
Context of the Blockade
US forces have been enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports since 13 April, following Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Centcom reported disabling nine vessels and redirecting 135 others during this period. The strategic move aims to restrict the flow of goods through the waterway, which handles about 20% of global oil and gas supplies.
The tanker Jalveer, which carried 20 Indian sailors, reported a fire in its engine room on Thursday morning. Satellite images confirmed smoke rising from the ship, according to BBC Verify. Centcom stated that US aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles after the crew “repeatedly failed to comply with directions.” The crew had previously reached out to the Omani navy and another vessel for aid, with one crew member criticizing the US action:
“It just targets merchant ships.”
Tracking the Vessels
Ship tracking data indicates Jalveer has traversed between the Gulf and multiple Indian ports in the last year, though it hasn’t faced US sanctions for its ties to Iran. Settebello, the vessel struck on Wednesday, had sailed from the Gulf to Chinese ports like Zhoushan and Lianyungang over the past six months. Its location tracker went offline on 31 May, leaving uncertainty about its position during the attack.
The company managing Settebello, IOS Marine FZE, denied the US claim that the ship ignored directions. It emphasized,
“We categorically deny the ship ignored directions,”
and highlighted no connection to Iran. Meanwhile, the Indian shipping minister described the incident as “deeply unfortunate,” noting the repatriation of the deceased sailors would proceed swiftly.
