Seafarers’ bodies demand protection for civilian crews after US Navy attacks kill 3 Indians

The deaths have sparked public fury in India, with Modi under pressure from some unions.

A US military missile strike on the Palau-flagged tanker M/T Settebello on Tuesday hit the vessel’s engine room and sparked a fire.

The diplomatic move follows yet another incident yesterday, where a commercial vessel with 20 Indian crew members on board came under attack in the region.

India has intensified its security response in the Gulf region, placing all relevant agencies on the highest level of alert after a series of maritime incidents claimed the lives of three Indian sailors and raised concerns about the safety of commercial shipping routes.