Since the start of the US-Israel war against Iran on February 28, at least 15 seafarers have lost their lives in attacks on commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Many of the victims were Indian.
A United Nations report published in June had placed the death toll at 14; however, the figure has since risen following confirmation by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that another seafarer was killed in an Iranian attack on an oil tanker.
An Indian seafarer was among the victims of this recent attack. Reports of the incident emerged on Tuesday after Iranian missiles struck two UAE oil tankers. According to the international news agency AP, six Indians and two Ukrainians were also injured in the attack.
Meanwhile, India has summoned Iran’s Deputy Head of Mission, Mohammad Javad Hosseini, to lodge a protest regarding the incident.
According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), 46 attacks on commercial vessels have been confirmed since the outbreak of the war.
