India has strongly condemned the attacks on two commercial vessels, MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa, during their transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which left one Indian seafarer dead and several others injured.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said both vessels were carrying 30 Indian nationals among their combined crew of 46. On board MT Al Bahiyah, one of the 12 Indian crew members lost his life while another was injured. On MT Mombasa, nine of the 18 Indian crew members sustained injuries, including two who are reported to be in critical condition.
Following the incident, the MEA summoned the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the attacks.
Expressing condolences to the family of the deceased seafarer, the ministry also wished a speedy recovery to those injured. It said the Indian Mission and Post in the UAE are closely monitoring the situation and are in touch with the UAE authorities to extend all possible assistance to the affected Indian nationals.
India strongly condemned the attacks on commercial shipping, describing them as acts of violence that threaten the safety of seafarers and disrupt free navigation through international waterways. The government also expressed deep concern over the renewed escalation of hostilities in West Asia and called for an immediate end to violence and a return to dialogue and diplomacy in the interest of regional peace, security and stability.
The MEA further stressed that attacks targeting commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure must cease to ensure the early restoration of free and unimpeded navigation and trade through the region's international waterways.
