First Indian death in Middle East conflict: Mariner killed in oil tanker attack

An Indian crew member aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker MKD VYOM was killed following a drone boat attack in the Gulf of Oman

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In what comes as the first Indian casualty in the US-Israel war on Iran, a bomb-carrying drone boat struck a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, killing one mariner on board, who has been identified as an Indian.

According to Oman News Agency, the attack happened in the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Muscat. The vessel has been identified as MKD VYOM.

Iran has been threatening vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, and is believed to have launched multiple attacks as the war in the Mideast continues after Israel and the United States started a major airstrike campaign targeting the Islamic Republic, reports news agency AP.

News agency Reuters had reported on Sunday that a projectile hit the Marshall Islands-flagged product tanker MKD VYOM as it was sailing off the coast of Oman, killing a crew member. 

Vessel manager V.Ships, in a statement, had said, "The vessel suffered an explosion and subsequent fire after being struck. It is with great sadness that we confirm one crew member, who was in the engine room at the time of the incident, has died."

The victim was not identified then.

The Sultanate of Oman's Maritime Security Centre too confirmed that the incident happened about 52 nautical miles northwest of Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat Governorate.

Meanwhile, the Indian government said the Centre is fully prepared to bring back Indians stranded in the Gulf region and is in touch with Indian missions abroad to ensure their safety.