Indian crew rescued after attack on oil tanker off Oman

Images posted on social media by the Forward Seamen's Union of India showed crew members being winched from the vessel by helicopter as thick black smoke billowed from its bridge and accommodation cabins.

A fire erupted on a Palau-flagged tanker with a crew of 24 Indians when it was attacked by the US Navy off the coast of Oman on Monday, and all crew members of the vessel sanctioned by the US were later evacuated to safety by the Oman Air Force.

The vessel, identified as the MT Marivex, was sailing approximately 15 nautical miles off the Omani coast toward the port of Duqm when the incident occurred around 1:30 pm IST.

It comes against the backdrop of tensions involving Iran, the US and Israel, which have disrupted shipping routes and increased military activity in and around the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.