Gulf of Oman
Gulf of Oman: site of US strikes on commercial tankers, Indian seafarer deaths and contested accounts
Reporting identifies the Gulf of Oman as the location of multiple US military actions against commercial tankers. U.S. Central Command said it disabled the tanker Settebello after it allegedly attempted to transport Iranian oil, and the US military said a tanker ignored repeated warnings that it carried Iranian oil.
Accounts record a strike on Settebello that is linked to the deaths of three Indian seafarers on 7 June 2023. On 10 June 2023 US aircraft are reported to have fired Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the MT Jalveer, disabling the Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship while all 20 Indian crew were evacuated. Reporting also describes the earlier disabling and rescue of the Marivex crew. Shipowners and IOS Marine FZE have disputed US accounts and called for a full international investigation. India condemned the Settebello strike, and the Royal Navy of Oman assisted in rescue efforts.
- U.S. forces are reported to have disabled multiple tankers in the Gulf of Oman, including Settebello, MT Jalveer and Marivex
- The Settebello incident is linked to three Indian seafarer deaths on 7 June 2023; India publicly condemned the strike
- U.S. Central Command said Settebello was attempting to transport Iranian oil and that warnings were ignored
- Reports state a U.S. aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into MT Jalveer’s engine room on 10 June 2023, disabling the vessel
- All 20 Indian crew of MT Jalveer were evacuated to shore; the Royal Navy of Oman aided rescue operations
- IOS Marine FZE and other owners disputed the US account and called for a full international investigation
Synthesised from 40 sourced claims across our published briefings.
The complete claim-by-claim ledger for Gulf of Oman — every sourced report with its Admiralty grade, confidence, and the briefs that cited it — is on the Analyst plan.
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