3 dead, no apology: US strike strains relations with India

Lead

Three Indian sailors were killed in a US Navy attack on a merchant vessel off Oman, an incident that has strained diplomatic relations between Washington and New Delhi. The Indian government has lodged a strong protest and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar raised the deaths directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as reported by the South China Morning Post and The Hindu.

The attack occurred on Wednesday, according to a report by the South China Morning Post, which identified the vessel as the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello. The ship carried 24 Indian mariners, the report said.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the incident from the South China Morning Post and The Hindu — World emphasizes both the human toll and the diplomatic fallout. The South China Morning Post reported on the emotional response of families, including Sushila Devi, whose husband Shivanand Chaurasia was one of the three sailors killed. The Hindu — World, India's newspaper of record, focused on the facts of the incident and the Indian government's diplomatic response, noting that India has an estimated 3.5 lakh Indian seafarers working on ships worldwide.

Both outlets reported that the Indian government lodged a protest and that Jaishankar called Rubio to reiterate India's strong protest. The South China Morning Post characterized the diplomatic exchange as tense, reporting that Rubio offered no apology and instead warned that all commercial vessels must comply with US orders in the Strait of Hormuz. The Hindu — World also reported Rubio's warning, quoting his statement that violations of the American blockade and illicit transport of Iranian oil would not be tolerated.

Key Claims

• Three Indian sailors were killed in a US Navy attack on the tanker Settebello off Oman, as reported by the South China Morning Post and The Hindu.
• The Indian government lodged a second protest with the US, and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar called US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reiterate the protest.
• Rubio warned that all commercial vessels must comply with US orders in the Strait of Hormuz, and that violations of the US blockade and illicit transport of Iranian oil would not be tolerated, according to the South China Morning Post and The Hindu.
• The US has imposed a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a claim reported by the South China Morning Post and The Hindu.
• The Hindu reported that the US Navy attacked three merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members — Marivex, Settebello, and Jalveer — on June 8, 10, and 11. While no one was hurt on Marivex and Jalveer, three Indian seafarers died on Settebello.
• A viral video showed the body of a 35-year-old Indian seafarer on a vessel off Oman, who died from medical complications due to the US blockade, as reported by the South China Morning Post. The same report said three more Indian sailors were killed when a tanker was bombed by the US after it repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces.
• The US has warned ships not to defy orders from the US Navy, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
• The Hindu reported that the Indian Navy has acted against Houthis and Somalian pirates to help Indian seafarers aboard foreign-flagged ships.

Perspectives

Indian Government's Position: The Indian government lodged a strong protest against the US attacks, with Foreign Minister Jaishankar stating on social media: "I reiterated India's strong protest at the attacks by the U.S. Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified."

US Government's Position: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded to India's protests by warning that all commercial vessels must comply with US orders in the Strait of Hormuz and that "violations of the US blockade and illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated," as reported by the South China Morning Post and The Hindu.