India Condemns Attack On Commercial Ship Near Hormuz, 11 Indians Among 12 Injured

India on Tuesday condemned the attack on Panama-flagged commercial vessel MT On Peace after it was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz off Oman, injuring 12 crew members, including 11 Indian nationals. The vessel, bearing IMO number 9893204, had 19 crew members on board, of whom 17 were Indians, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

“With the assistance of Omani authorities, the injured crew have since been evacuated and are receiving medical treatment in Khasab, Oman,” the MEA said, thanking the Omani authorities for their support.

The ministry said the continuing attacks on shipping in the region remain a “cause of deep concern” for India and reiterated its call for an immediate cessation of such attacks in the interests of peace and stability in the region. It also called for an end to attacks targeting commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure.

“The targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and navigation and commerce through international waterways must be restored at the earliest,” the MEA said.

The attack comes amid a sharp rise in incidents involving commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported on Monday that at least seven tanker incidents had been recorded in the preceding week. Among them, the Kuwait-flagged Kazimah III was struck by an unknown projectile on October 1, while the Liberia-flagged Lipsi was hit on October 4, damaging its engine room. No casualties were reported in those incidents.

Shipping traffic through the strategic waterway has also slowed following the recent attacks. Reuters reported that only five commodity vessels transited the strait on Saturday, compared with 31 during the previous weekend, according to Kpler data.