The United States military fired two Hellfire missiles [1] into the engine room of the MT Jalveer oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on June 11, 2024 [3].
The strike marks the third attack on a tanker with an Indian crew in a single week [4]. This escalation increases diplomatic friction between Washington and New Delhi as India demands an immediate end to such operations.
U.S. Central Command said the vessel repeatedly ignored warnings, which prompted the missile strike [5]. The attack targeted the engine room of the ship to disable it. Despite the strike, all 20 Indian seafarers [2] on board were rescued and remained unharmed [2].
The Government of India, through the Ministry of External Affairs, responded to the incident. Officials said the attack was "deeply worrisome" and demanded an end to such strikes [5].
This incident follows two previous strikes on tankers with Indian crews within the same seven-day period [4]. The U.S. military has shared footage of the attack on the MT Jalveer to justify the engagement [2].
India has previously expressed concern over the safety of its maritime workers in the region. The Ministry of External Affairs has urged the U.S. to ensure the safety of Indian nationals during its security operations in the Gulf of Oman [5].
“The United States fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the oil tanker MT Jalveer.”
The repeated targeting of vessels with Indian crews highlights a growing tension between U.S. security imperatives in the Gulf of Oman and India's responsibility to protect its citizens abroad. While the U.S. justifies these actions as necessary responses to non-compliant vessels, the frequency of these strikes—three in one week—threatens the diplomatic stability of the U.S.-India strategic partnership.
