New Delhi: India on Friday lodged a strong protest with the US charge d’affaires Jason Meeks over the three attacks on merchant ships carrying Indian sailors off the Oman coast. Three Indian sailors lost their lives in the attack of MT Settebello on June 10. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement said that it conveyed “deep concern over the use of lethal and deadly force against civilian shipping” during the meeting.
“The U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, Mr. Jason Meeks, was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs today. A strong protest was lodged with him regarding the continuing attacks by U.S. naval forces on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners in the Gulf of Oman, which have already resulted in the tragic and avoidable loss of three Indian lives,” the MEA said in a statement.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs🔗 https://t.co/HixbfYQsW7 pic.twitter.com/HVsRP8BwbM
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 12, 2026
“The Ministry once again conveyed its deep concern over the use of lethal and deadly force against civilian shipping. Such actions are unacceptable and undermine the safety, security, and stability of international maritime commerce in a sensitive region at a difficult time,” it added.
As per the MEA, Meeks was requested to convey India’s strong concerns to his authorities and to ensure that US forces operating in the region take all necessary measures to prevent the loss of civilian life.
#WATCH | Delhi: MEA summons US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks to lodge a protest against attacks on commercial vessels off the coast of Oman. Yesterday, yet another vessel with 20 Indian crew on board came under attack.The US envoy was called in by Additional Secretary… pic.twitter.com/5GFmALWeSb
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2026
Notably, it was the second time in a week when the top US diplomat was summoned. to lodge a strong protest over repeated attacks on merchant ships off the Oman coast. The development came a day after Guinea-Bissau-flagged oil tanker MT Jalveer was attacked by the US Navy in the Gulf of Oman. A total of 20 Indian seafarers were onboard the ship at the time of the attack.
The US envoy was also called in on Thursday by the Additional Secretary (Americas) in the Ministry of External Affairs to register India’s serious concerns after three Indians were killed in the US action.
Also Read: ‘We Are Worried’: Last Call Of Himachal Sailor Aditya Sharma Before Oman Ship Attack | Exclusive
A Palau-flagged oil tanker, Marivex, carrying 24 Indian seafarers, was disabled by US forces on June 8. All crew members were safely rescued. On June 10, the US struck another Palau-flagged tanker, Settebello, killing three out of the 24 Indian sailors on board. MT Jalveer, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker, was attacked on Thursday.